Pope Leo XIV Urges Religious in Cameroon to Live a Courageous Witness and Strengthen Collaboration

Pope Leo XIV met on April 17 with nine consecrated religious representing the National Conference of Major Superiors and more than 250 religious institutes serving in Cameroon, encouraging them to deepen their witness and collaboration within the Church, according to Vatican News.

During the meeting, the religious leaders expressed gratitude for the Pope’s visit and his recent addresses, while also sharing their pastoral experiences. As reported by Vatican News, they spoke about their ministry among people facing hardship, particularly young people, displaced communities, victims of violence, and those affected by human trafficking.

They also raised concerns about the need for stronger collaboration with bishops and diocesan clergy, as well as questions surrounding religious identity within their congregations.

In response, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of consecrated life in the Church. “Consecrated life is an essential part of the life of the Church,” he said, as cited by Vatican News.

He highlighted the relationship between religious communities and local Church leadership, recalling that a recent Synod proposed updating the document Mutuae relationes, which guides cooperation between bishops and religious. The Pope stressed the need to recognize and promote the diverse charisms of religious congregations within each diocese.

Addressing formation, Pope Leo said each institute must remain faithful to its specific charism while ensuring proper discernment. Candidates, he noted, should be prepared for lives marked by sacrifice, self-gift, and service within community.

Referring to his speeches during the visit, the Pope urged those present to carry forward his message. “The Pope has arrived, the Pope is leaving, but you have the things that were said,” he remarked, encouraging them to reflect on and share these teachings in addressing present-day challenges.

Pope Leo concluded by calling for courage in consecrated life. “Consecrated life calls for courage, at times radical courage, in the choice to proclaim without fear what Jesus teaches us in the Gospel,” he said, emphasizing the need to reach those on the margins, including prisoners and those most in need of hope and God’s love.

The meeting ended with the Pope praying the Our Father and imparting his blessing, before greeting each participant individually, Vatican News reported.