Skip to content

PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV meets with students, visits hospital, holds stadium Mass in Cameroon

Pope Leo XIV holds a sculpture at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV holds a sculpture at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

The Holy Father continues his third day in Cameroon before traveling to Angola on April 18.

Pope Leo XIV continued his papal trip in Africa on April 17, holding Mass in Japoma Stadium in Cameroon, visiting a Catholic hospital, and meeting with students at the Catholic University of Central Africa.

The Holy Father arrived in Cameroon on April 15 and will depart for Angola on April 18, eventually finishing his first papal trip to the continent in Equatorial Guinea.

Here’s a look at some of the pope’s ongoing activities in Cameroon:

Pope Leo XIV greets crowds in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets crowds in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets clergy and thousands of faithful at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets clergy and thousands of faithful at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV presides at Mass in Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV presides at Mass in Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV incenses a statue of the Blessed Mother at Japoma Stadium during Mass on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV incenses a statue of the Blessed Mother at Japoma Stadium during Mass on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets religious sisters at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets religious sisters at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a mother and child at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a mother and child at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a mother and child at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a mother and child at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a newborn at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a newborn at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a newborn at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a child at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a child at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV offers a blessing to a patient at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV offers a blessing to a patient at St. Paul Catholic Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets crowds at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets crowds at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Upon his arrival to the University, Pope Leo couldn’t resist this photo-op with St. Augustine.

Pope Leo XIV greets a student at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets a student at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV speaks to students and dignitaries at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on Friday, April 17, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Follow the Live Updates of Pope Leo’s Trip in Africa available at EWTN News.

This article was originally published on EWTN News in English.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp

EWTN News Staff

The EWTN News Staff is a team of journalists dedicated to reporting news concerning the Catholic Church around the world. Our bureaus are located in Washington, D.C., and Rome. We have sister language agencies in Kenya, Germany, Peru, Brazil, and Italy. You can contact us at contactnews@ewtn.com with questions.

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

From the Vatican to Australia: Sistine Chapel exhibit debuts in Sydney

The Vatican Museums and the Archdiocese of Sydney held a conference in Rome to launch the exhibition ahead

World Mission Day: Leo XIV calls for supporting those who bring Christ to ends of earth

Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics to support missionaries on World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on

Pope Leo XIV at Pentecost: The Holy Spirit ‘teaches us to walk together in unity’

During his first Pentecost as pope, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to embrace the Holy Spirit as a source of freedom and grace and to live the Beatitudes in spreading the Gospel.

Pope Leo asks for liturgy that is ‘sober in its solemnity’ while respecting popular piety

Pope Leo XIV urged parishes to invest in liturgical formation, especially for lectors, while also encouraging people to

Pope Francis meets with two Nigerian girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram

Pope Francis met Wednesday with two young Nigerian girls who suffered horrendous violence at the hands of the

The ‘most valuable’ gift to give this Christmas, according to Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV told the young people of Italian Catholic Action that they can perform a simple gesture

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNVatican.com