Pope Leo XIV has called for greater solidarity in tackling hunger and inequality, as he celebrated Mass before hundreds of thousands of worshippers in Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala.
The Pope arrived in the southwestern city on Friday, where he presided over a large outdoor service at Japoma Stadium attended by an estimated 600,000 people.
In his homily, he focused on the biblical account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, drawing parallels with present-day challenges of poverty and food insecurity.
He said people continue to question God’s presence in times of need, asking: “Where is God in the face of people’s hunger?”
Pope Leo XIV pointed to sharing as the response to such challenges, saying the miracle in the Gospel story came through collective action.
“A serious problem was solved by blessing the little food that was present and sharing it with all who were hungry,” he said. “The multiplication of the loaves and the fish happened while sharing: that is the miracle!”
He warned against practices that worsen inequality, including conflict, hoarding and waste, saying resources are sufficient when distributed justly.
The Pope also spoke about the need for spiritual support alongside material assistance.
“Yet this alone is not enough,” he said. “The food that sustains the body must be accompanied, with equal charity, by nourishment for the soul—a nourishment that sustains our conscience and steadies us in dark hours of fear and amid the shadows of suffering.”
During the Mass, he encouraged young people in Africa to play an active role in shaping their future, urging them to use their talents positively and reject violence and corruption.
“Be the first faces and hands that bring the bread of life to your neighbors, providing them with the food of wisdom and deliverance from all that does not nourish them, but rather obscures good desires and robs them of their dignity,” he said.
He noted the contrast between Cameroon’s natural resources and the poverty experienced by many, calling on young people not to lose hope.
“Do not give in to distrust and discouragement,” he said. “Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart and makes it insensitive.”
He concluded by urging Christians to live out their faith through actions that promote justice, peace and human dignity.
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