Midway through his African tour, Pope Leo XIV turned his attention squarely to young people in Cameroon, devoting Friday’s schedule to faith, education and a message about the country’s future.

The day began in Douala, the country’s commercial hub, where he was set to celebrate Mass before heading to a hospital, the AP reported. The Vatican anticipated an enormous turnout, with roughly 600,000 worshippers expected, making it the largest gathering of his 11-day trip and a defining moment in what is his first visit to Africa as the first American pope.

From there, he returned to Yaoundé for a meeting at the Catholic University of Central Africa. Such engagements have long been a feature of papal travel, particularly in developing regions, where popes use the platform to urge younger generations to stay resilient despite economic hardship and political challenges.

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In Cameroon, that message carries particular weight. About 29 percent of the country’s 29 million citizens are Catholic, and the population is strikingly young, with a median age of just 18.

Leo had already struck a pointed tone earlier in the visit during talks with President Paul Biya, who at 93 is the world’s oldest serving head of state. He called for the “chains of corruption” to be broken and framed the nation’s youth as its greatest hope.

The contrast between that optimism and Cameroon’s political reality remains sharp. Biya has been in power since 1982, symbolising a broader pattern across parts of Africa where youthful populations coexist with long-serving leaders.

Although the country produces oil and has recorded modest economic gains, many young people say those benefits are concentrated among elites, leaving the majority excluded.

“Of course, when unemployment and social exclusion persist, frustration can lead to violence,” Leo warned in his opening address to Biya and government authorities earlier this week. “Investing in the education, training, and entrepreneurship of young people is, therefore, a strategic choice for peace. It is the only way to curb the outflow of wonderful talent to other parts of the world.”

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Official figures reflect a complex picture. World Bank data places unemployment at 3.5 percent, yet a far larger share of young workers aged 18 to 35, about 57 percent, operate in the informal sector.

That imbalance has contributed to a steady outflow of skilled professionals. The health system, already under pressure, has been particularly affected as doctors and nurses seek better opportunities abroad. Government figures from 2023 indicate that roughly one in three newly trained doctors leaves the country after graduation.

Political tensions have further deepened public frustration. The discontent intensified after last October’s presidential election, where Biya secured an eighth term. When opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary challenged the outcome, protests broke out across the country, some of them turning deadly.

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