By Joshua McElwee and Amindeh Blaise Atabong
YAOUNDE, April 15 (Reuters) - Pope Leo on Wednesday urged Cameroon's government to root out corruption and resist "the whims of the rich and powerful", in a forceful speech given in the presence of President Paul Biya, who has led the country since 1982.
Leo, who was criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump for a second time during his 10-day tour of four African countries, also called for an end to Cameroon's simmering Anglophone conflict, which has killed
thousands.
"It is time to examine our conscience and take a bold leap forward," the first U.S. pope told Biya, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and other leaders shortly after arriving in Cameroon from Algeria.
"In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption - which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility - must be broken," Leo said in an unusually direct speech for a papal trip overseas.
"Hearts must be set free from an idolatrous thirst for profit."
TRUMP CRITICISM
Biya listened to the pope's speech without visible reaction. His government denies accusations of corruption and human rights abuses and says the stability he brings allows Cameroon to avoid the kind of conflict seen elsewhere in the region, including in war-hit Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.
Leo, who will mark one year as pope in May, kept a relatively low profile for a pope in his first 10 months but in recent weeks has become outspoken on a range of issues, notably the Iran war.
That has made him a target this week for criticism from Trump, who reiterated his comments in a social media post on Tuesday, despite a widespread backlash from U.S. Christians across the political spectrum.
Leo told Reuters on Monday he would keep criticising the war, regardless of Trump's comments.
Speaking on his flight to Cameroon, Leo did not speak about Trump directly. He urged respect for all the peoples of the world and said his tour has shown the importance of pursuing dialogue between different communities.
SEPARATISTS VOW SAFE TRAVEL FOR VISITORS
Cameroon is a former German colony that was partitioned by Britain and France after World War One. Over the last decade, thousands have died in violence between government forces and separatist groups in its two English-speaking regions.
A separatist alliance has said it will observe a three-day "safe travel passage" to allow civilians and visitors to move freely during the pope's visit.
Leo, who also referred on Wednesday to conflicts with Nigeria-based militant groups such as Boko Haram in Cameroon's north, lamented how fighting was depriving young people of education and hope for the future.
"Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction and exile!" he said.
POPE URGES LEADERS TO LISTEN TO CITIZENS
Biya, 93 years old and in power for more than four decades, benefits from an entrenched patronage system.
As he ran for an eighth term in 2025, Biya's own daughter Brenda posted a video of herself on social media urging voters to pick another candidate because Biya "has made too many people suffer", though she later deleted the post.
Leo told the president and other leaders that governing "means truly listening to citizens, valuing their intelligence and their ability to help build lasting solutions to problems".
He also urged protection of human rights in the country.
"Security is a priority, but it must always be exercised with respect for human rights," the pope said.
"Authentic peace arises when ... the law serves as a secure safeguard against the whims of the rich and powerful."
COMPLICATED TOUR INVOLVES 11 CITIES
Thousands of people, many wearing colourful fabrics, lined the streets in Yaounde as the pope was driven from the airport to the presidential palace, some dancing and singing under a brilliant afternoon sun.
Billboards on the streets showed an image of Leo and Biya with the message in French and English: "Welcome to Cameroon, Land of Hope."
Leo, aged 70, relatively young for a pope and in good health, is undertaking one of the most complicated tours arranged for a pontiff in decades.
He is traversing nearly 18,000 km (11,185 miles) over 18 flights to 11 cities and towns and will also visit Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
The pope will travel on Thursday to Bamenda, Cameroon's biggest English-speaking city, holding Mass and a "meeting for peace" in a cathedral.
The biggest event of Leo's tour will likely come in Cameroon on Friday, when the Vatican said some 600,000 are expected for a Mass in the coastal city of Douala.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Additional reporting by Amindeh Blaise Atabong in Dakar; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Alison Williams)
