Pope Leo XIV visit to Cameroon sparks hopes for peace in separatist-hit anglophone region

In a region scarred by years of conflict, Pope Leo XIV’s impending visit to Cameroon’s anglophone areas is being seen as a beacon of hope for peace. Bamenda, the epicenter of a separatist struggle that has claimed thousands of lives since igniting in 2016, is bracing for his arrival. Locals speak candidly about their aspirations for his presence to encourage dialogue and healing. Giovanni Mbuna, a youth center manager who himself endured the harrowing ordeal of a kidnapping by armed groups, expr