Pope Leo XIV will undertake an apostolic journey to Cameroon from March 15 to 18, 2026. This visit, highly anticipated by the Cameroonian Catholic community, will take place in four key stages in the cities of Yaounde, Bamenda, and Douala.
The Sovereign Pontiff will arrive in Cameroon on March 15 at 3:20 PM at Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport, where an official welcoming ceremony is planned. This first day will be marked by a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, at the Unity Palace, followed by a meeting with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps at the Congress Hall. The Pope will also visit the Ngül-Zamba Orphanage and have a private meeting with the bishops at the headquarters of the National Episcopal Conference.
On March 16, the second stage will take the Pope to Bamenda, in the Northwest region, where he is expected at 11:00 AM. There, he will participate in a meeting for peace with the local community at Saint Joseph's Cathedral and celebrate Mass at Bamenda International Airport, before returning to Yaounde. This visit to Bamenda is of particular importance given the political and social tensions that the region has experienced in recent years.
The third stage, on March 17, will take place partly in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon. The Pope is expected there at 9:55 AM. He will celebrate Mass at the Japoma Stadium at 11:00 AM, and then visit the Saint-Paul Catholic Hospital. Back in Yaounde, he will meet with the academic community at the Catholic University of Central Africa at 5:30 PM.
Finally, on March 18, the last stage will take place in Yaounde with a Mass at the Mvan Air Base 101 at 9:30 AM. The departure ceremony at Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport will mark the end of the apostolic journey.
This trip will include three Masses, four meetings, and three visits. The Archbishop of Yaounde has called on the faithful for an exceptional commitment, inviting them to gather on the various routes taken by the Pope and to wear the attire of their associations and movements. A prayer and a special song have been prepared for the occasion. The event comes amid political and social tensions in Cameroon.
Leo XIV will be the third Pope to visit Cameroon, after John Paul II in 1985 and 1995, and Benedict XVI in 2009. This trip to Africa will also include visits to Algeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
