YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday celebrated Mass at Yaoundé-Ville Airport in the final public event of his apostolic journey to Cameroon, telling thousands of faithful that “no one must be left alone to confront life’s adversities.”
Before departing later in the day for Angola, the pope reflected on the Gospel account of Jesus walking on the water and tied it to the fears, crises, and social challenges faced by both individuals and nations.
“Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you! It is the peace of Christ, whose presence illuminates our path and calms life’s storms,” Leo said. “As we heard in the Gospel, faith does not spare us from tumult and tribulations. At times, it can seem that fear has the upper hand. However, we know that even in these moments, Jesus does not abandon us.”
Drawing from St. John’s account of the disciples at sea, the Pope said that in Jewish tradition, water “often calls to mind the netherworld, chaos, danger and death,” while also recalling the Exodus, when God led his people through the waters to freedom.
“Throughout the ages, the Church has navigated many storms and ‘strong winds,’” he said. “We too can
