Papal visit stirs fears of political endorsement for embattled Cameroon president

As Cameroon prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV for a four-day visit starting Wednesday, tensions simmer over the trip’s potential to bolster the image of President Paul Biya—a leader accused of clinging to power through repression. The visit comes in the wake of deadly unrest last October, when protests erupted over Biya's contested re-election for an eighth term, stretching his rule to an unprecedented 42 years. Critics within Cameroon's Catholic community fear the Pope’s arrival may inadvertentl