Pope Leo’s Homily at Holy Mass
at Bamenda, International Airport, Cameroon – Thursday, April 16, 2026
Gospel for Holy Mass (John 3:31-36)
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony;
33 he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit;
35 the Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.
Pope Leo’s Homily
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As a pilgrim of peace and unity, I come to you, expressing my joy at visiting your region and sharing in your journey, struggles, and hopes.
The celebrations that accompany your liturgies and the joy that comes from your prayers to God are a sign of your trust in him, your unwavering hope, and your commitment to the love of the Father, who draws near and looks with compassion on the suffering of his children.
In the psalm that we recited together, we sang of the trust in God we are called to renew today:
“The Lord is close to the contrite in heart, he saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps 34:19).
Brothers and sisters, many situations and reasons break our hearts and plunge us into sadness.
The hope for a future of peace and reconciliation, where everyone’s dignity and rights are respected, is constantly undermined by the many problems that plague this beautiful land.
These problems include the multiple forms of poverty that have recently affected many people in connection with the ongoing food crisis; moral, social, and political corruption, especially related to wealth management, which hinders the development of institutions and structures; and serious difficulties in the education and healthcare systems, as well as increased emigration, especially among young people.
Internal problems, often fueled by hatred and violence, are accompanied by evil from outside, from those who continue to exploit and plunder the African continent in the name of profit.
All of this makes us feel powerless and like our trust is running out.
Yet the time has come for a change in the history of this country.
The time is now, not tomorrow—the time to rebuild the mosaic of unity by embracing the country’s and continent’s diversity and richness.
Now is the time to build a society in which peace and reconciliation reign.
When this situation has been perpetuated for a long time, there is a risk of resignation and powerlessness because we do not expect anything new.
However, the Word of the Lord opens new spaces, generating transformation and healing.
The Word of the Lord can (1) touch our hearts, (2) disrupt the normal course of events to which we easily become accustomed, and (3) inspire us to actively participate in change.
Let us remember this: God is new. God creates new things. God transforms us into courageous people who build good by opposing evil.
We see this in the Apostles’ testimony, which we heard in the first reading.
When the Sanhedrin authorities interrogated the Apostles, they reproached and threatened them for publicly preaching Christ.
The Apostles answer: “We must listen to God rather than to men. […] The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you lost by hanging him on a tree” (Acts 5:29-30).
The Apostles’ courage became a critical conscience, a prophecy, and an exposure of evil. This is the first step to changing the situation.
Obedience to God is not an act of submission that oppresses us or abolishes our freedom.
On the contrary, it makes us free because we entrust our lives to Him and allow His Word to inspire our thoughts and actions.
As we heard in the Gospel, which quotes the final part of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, “He who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in earthly terms. He who comes from heaven is above all things” (John 3:31).
Those who obey God rather than men and the earthly way of thinking (1) regain their inner freedom, (2) discover the value of good and reject evil, and (3) find the way of life, becoming builders of peace and fraternity.
Brothers and sisters, if we trust God and His Word, then comfort for broken hearts and hope for a transformative society are possible.
However, we must always remember the call of the Apostle Peter to obey God rather than men.
We must obey Him because He alone is God.
This invites us to promote the inculturation of the Gospel and be vigilant, including with regard to our religiosity. Otherwise, we may fall into the trap of mixing the Catholic faith with other beliefs and traditions of an esoteric or Gnostic nature that often serve political and economic purposes.
Only God sets us free. Only His Word opens the paths of freedom. Only His Spirit makes us new people who can change this country.
I accompany you with my unceasing prayers, and I bless the Church present here, particularly the many priests, missionaries, consecrated individuals, and laypeople who work to provide comfort and hope.
I encourage you to continue on this path, entrusting you to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles and Mother of the Church.
