Catechism of Pope Leo XIV on Peace, by Archbishop Andrew Nkea of Bamenda in Cameroon

Dr. John Baptist Tumusiime and Fr. Beltus Asanji

The archbishop of Bamenda in Cameroon, His Grace Andrew Nkea, presented to Pope Leo XIV, on October 7th, his new pastoral book inspired by the Pope’s visit to Cameroon in April 2026. The book has the title: Catechism of Pope Leo XIV on Peace. It contains 100 questions on peace, with answers drawn directly from the speeches and homily the Pope delivered in Bamenda on April 16th 2026. Archbishop Nkea wrote the book with the objective of putting the Pope’s message into a form that families, schools and parishes can use every day.  Each of the 100 questions addresses issues facing communities in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon where an ongoing civil war between government armed forces and rebels of the Ambazonia movement erupted in September 2017. The Topics covered in the pastoral book include forgiveness, dialogue, care for displaced persons, the role of young people, and responsible leadership. The answers to the questions are quotes/paraphrases from the Pope’s own words spoken at St. Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda.

Catechism of Pope Leo XIV on Peace is the Teaching of Pope Leo XIV

Archbishop Andrew Nkea told Vatican news that Catechism of Pope Leo XIV on Peace is not his teaching, but the teaching of Pope Leo, given to the people of Cameroon in Bamenda. Pope Leo received the book with appreciation. He said he was “happily surprised” to see it. He expressed hope that many people, especially children, will read it and grow in the culture of peace. The Pope thanked Archbishop Nkea and the team in Bamenda for turning his visit into a concrete pastoral resource.

Effects of the civil war

Bamenda is one of the areas of English-speaking Cameroon that have been badly affected by the ongoing civil war. Thousands of people have been killed and many more have been displaced. Private and public properties as well as the infrastructure have been destroyed. During the visit to Cameroon, Pope Leo made repeated appeals for dialogue and reconciliation. According to Archbishop Nkea, Catechism of Pope Leo XIV on Peace is meant to keep that message alive. He said copies will first be distributed to parishes and Catholic schools in Bamenda, then to other dioceses in Cameroon. The Peace and Justice commissions of the different catholic dioceses in the country will use the book for community formation. Archbishop Nkea explained after meeting Pope Leo that the book is not the end of the papal visit, but the start of a way of life, underlining that for the people trapped in the war zones in Cameroon, peace is a daily choice. He prayed that the 100 questions and answers in Catechism of Pope Leo XIV on Peace may help the people of his country to learn, teach, and live what Pope Leo asked of them during his visit, that is, to be promoters and messengers of peace. Archbishop Nkea is the current President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Cameroon).  He was, on June 30th 2026, appointed by Pope Leo XIV as a Member of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches.