Pope Leo on Wednesday (April 15) urged Cameroon's government to root out corruption in a forceful speech given in the presence of 93 year-old President Paul Biya, who has led the country since 1982.

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.

The Pope was attacked overnight 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.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

POPE LEO XIV ARRIVING IN YAOUNDE, CAMEROON / POPE LEO ON STAGE WITH CAMEROON PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA / SOUNDBITES OF POPE AND BIYA

RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: IN CERTAIN PARTS NARRATION IN FRENCH OR ENGLISH OVER VISUALS IS AS RECEIVED FROM SOURCE.

SHOWS: YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (CRTV – Access All)

1. POPE LEO XIV WAVING FROM VEHICLE IN CONVOY TO CROWDS CHEERING ON ROADSIDE IN YAOUNDE

2. CROWDS CHEERING AS POPE’S CONVOY PASSES

3. VARIOUS OF CONVOY AND CROWDS

4. POPE LEO ARRIVING AT UNITY PALACE, WAVING FROM VEHICLE AS SUPPORTERS WAVE FLAGS

5. CROWD OUTSIDE UNITY PALACE

6. POPE LEO WALKING INTO UNITY PALACE, GREETING CROWD

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

7. POPE LEO ADDRESSING AUDIENCE WITH WIFE OF CAMEROON PRESIDENT, CHANTAL BIYA, LISTENING IN BACKGROUND

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (CRTV – Access All)

8. (SOUNDBITE) (French) POPE LEO, SAYING (VISUALS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING OVERLAID AS RECEIVED FROM SOURCE):

“In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption - which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility – must in effect be broken. Hearts must be set free from an idolatrous thirst for profit: true profit comes from integral human development, that is, the balanced growth of all the aspects that make life on this earth a blessing.”

9. VARIOUS OF CLERGY LISTENING

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

10. WOMEN LISTENING

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (CRTV – Access All)

11. (SOUNDBITE) (French) POPE LEO, SAYING (VISUALS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING OVERLAID AS RECEIVED FROM SOURCE):

“Cameroon possesses the human, cultural and spiritual resources necessary to overcome trials and conflicts and move toward a future of stability and shared prosperity. The common effort in favor of dialogue, justice and integral development must transform the wounds of the past into sources of renewal.”

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

12. VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS WAITING

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (CRTV – Access All)

13. POPE LEO SEATED NEXT TO CAMEROON PRESIDENT, PAUL BIYA

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

14. BIYA STANDING UP TO LECTERN

15. CAMERA OPERATOR FILMING

16. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF CAMEROON, PAUL BIYA, SAYING:

“Your Holiness, in this looming chaos, the message of peace and harmony that you carry resonates with particular force in our hearts. Like a refreshing and invigorating spring, it quenches the thirst for harmony that haunts us.”

17. CLERGY LISTENING

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (CRTV – Access All)

18. POPE LEO AND BIYA SHAKING HANDS

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

19. CHANTAL BIYA, POPE LEO, AND PAUL BIYA SITTING, APPLAUDING

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (CRTV – Access All)

20. AUDIENCE LEAVING HALL

21. POPE LEO GETTING INTO VEHICLE

22. CONVOY DRIVING OFF

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (APRIL 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access All)

23. CHILDREN WAVING FLAGS AND CHEERING AS CONVOY DRIVES OFF