In a deeply moving moment at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Bamenda, the Moderator Emeritus of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, the Very Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba, spoke with heartfelt conviction during the audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
Representing Protestant, Anglican, and Evangelical Christians across Cameroon, he expressed sincere gratitude for the Pope’s visit—describing it as a sign of hope for a people long burdened by crisis.
But beyond the gratitude was a powerful truth:
👉 Suffering has united the Church like never before.
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In the face of the Anglophone crisis, Christians and even Muslims have drawn closer together. Pain has erased divisions. As he put it,
suffering knows no tribe, no language, no denomination—only the need for comfort, healing, and peace.
Through a united Peace Movement led by the Church, religious leaders—under the leadership of Andrew Nkea Fuanya—have taken bold steps:
Engaging both government and separatist leaders
Travelling within and beyond the country for dialogue
Calling all sides to embrace peace over war
Yet, the reality remains sobering.
“This is one of the forgotten crises of the world,” he lamented.
With the weight of an entire people behind his words, he reminded the world of an African proverb:
👉 “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”
And indeed, the “grass”—ordinary men, women, and children—have borne the deepest wounds. Many are traumatized, longing not just for an end to violence, but for true healing—spiritual and psychological.
With humility and urgency, the appeal was made:
Holy Father, help us find lasting peace. Stand with us. Support our efforts. Let healing come to our land.
It was more than a speech.
It was a cry.
A cry for peace… from a people who still believe peace is possible.
