L'Effort Camerounais (English Version)

Pope's Address upon Arriving in Cameroon

Mr President, Distinguished Representatives of the Civil Authorities, Cardinal Tumi, My Brother Bishops, Dear Brothers and Sisters, Thank you for the welcome you have extended to me. And thank you, Mr President, for your kind words. I greatly appreciate the invitation to visit Cameroon, and for this I want to express my gratitude to you and to the President of the National Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Tonyé Bakot. I greet all of you who have honoured me by your presence on this occasion, and I want you to know how pleased I am to be here with you on African soil, for the first time since my election to the See of Peter.

Pope Benedict XVI’s address to the Bishops of Cameroon

Dear Cardinal, Dear Brother Bishops, This meeting with the Pastors of the Catholic Church in Cameroon gives me great joy. I thank the President of your Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Simon-Victor Tonyé Bakot, Archbishop of Yaounde, for the kind words he has addressed to me in your name. It is the third time that your country has welcomed the Successor of Peter.

Pope Benedict XVI's Homily at Amadou Ahidjo Stadium

Dear Brother Bishops, Dear Brothers and Sisters, Praised be Jesus Christ who has gathered us in this stadium today that we may enter more deeply into his life! Jesus Christ brings us together on this day when the Church, here in Cameroon and throughout the world, celebrates the Feast of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Virgin Mary. I begin by wishing a very happy feast day to all those who, like myself, have received the grace of bearing this beautiful name, and I ask Saint Joseph to grant them his special protection in guiding them towards the Lord Jesus Christ all the days of their life. I also extend cordial best wishes to all the parishes, schools, colleges, and institutions named after Saint Joseph.

Pope's Words to Cameroon Muslim Leaders

My Dear Friends, Grateful for this opportunity to meet representatives of the Muslim community in Cameroon, I express my heartfelt thanks to Mr Amadou Bello for his kind words of greeting extended to me on your behalf.

Pope's Farewell Address to Cameroon

Mr President,

Distinguished Representatives of the Civil Authorities,
Cardinal Tumi,

My Brother Bishops,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As I prepare to leave Cameroon, having completed the first phase of my Apostolic Visit to Africa, I want to thank all of you for the generous reception you have given me during these days. The warmth of the African sun is reflected in the warmth of the hospitality that has been extended to me. I thank the President and the members of the Government for their courteous welcome.

Editorial: Did I Get the Pope Right?

Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
The euphoria generated by the recent papal visit to Cameroon is gradually dissipating, ceding place to a time of stocktaking, the drawing of lessons; a time for reflection on the calls made and the teachings that were dispensed during the Pope's brief stay in our country.

"The Holy Father's visit to Cameroon was a great success. President Biya and I may soon meet," Christian Cardinal Tumi

Interviewed by Grace Ongey and Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
 

After the Holy Father's visit to Cameroon, it is now time for stocktaking. L'Effort camerounais spoke to the Archbishop of Douala, Christian Cardinal Tumi, who assesses the Pope's visit from a spiritual standpoint and, on the sidelines, his relation with the Head of State, Paul Biya, who he had not met for a very long time before the visit. Excerpts:

Pontifical Mass pulls a mammoth crowd to the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium

By Grace Ongey

It was 9:30am as the Pope's mobile made its entrance into the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium. The over 50,000 people, who took part in the Pontifical Mass, gave a standing ovation as the Holy Father went round the stadium, which resonated to the sound of religious music, waving to the crowd.

Pope Benedict XVI comforts the suffering masses

By Grace Ongey
 
The road leading to the Yaounde National Centre for the Disabled was chock-full Thursday, March 19 as thousands  elbowed each other to either get to or simply catch a glimpse of the Holy Father on his way to and from visiting the sick and suffering at Etug-Ebe.

How CRTV covered the Pope's visit in Cameroon

By Martin Jumbam
A few days before the Holy Father's arrival in Cameroon, I did what I would, under normal circumstances, not do, that is, take the time to listen to CRTV radio or watch its television.
However, since the Pope's visit was an extraordinary event, it called for extraordinary action on my part; and so I found myself sitting in my office one morning listening to a guest speaker on a CRTV morning French program.