Pope Leo XIV greeted by crowd of 120,000 in Cameroon as he attacks uneven distribution of wealth

Pope Leo XIVPope Leo XIV greeted by crowd of 120,000 in Cameroon as he attacks uneven distribution of wealthSome spent the night on the ground, battling mosquitoes, to stake out their spot for the pontiff's Mass in the economic capital of Cameroon.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to Google‘I have the right to disagree with the pope,’ Trump says02:19Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 17, 2026, 9:23 AM EDTBy Claudio Lavanga and The Associated PressDOUALA, Cameroon —Pope Leo XIV used a Mass attended by more than 100,000 people in Cameroon on Friday to openly criticize the uneven distribution of wealth.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Speaking in the port city of Douala, Cameroon’s financial and economic hub, he said that despite the richness of the land in Cameroon, which is a young country and one-third Catholic, many experience both material and spiritual poverty.The Vatican quoted local organizers' estimates that about 120,000 attended the Mass, expected to be one of the largest turnouts during his 11-day, four-nation Africa trip.Leo has not shied away from direct challenges to authority on the trip, earlier this week railing against corruption in the presence of President Paul Biya, who has been in power for more than 40 years. “In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption — which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility — must be broken,” he had said Wednesday, adding that hearts must be set free from “the idolatry of self and money.” In Douala on Friday, the big field in front of the Japoma Stadium was bursting with people singing, swaying and dancing as an announcer shouted “Habemus Papam!” (We have a pope!). The Latin phrase is used to announce the election of a new pope but in this case joyfully announced Leo’s arrival at the field.Several thousand people celebrate Mass with Pope Leo XIV on Friday.Christoph...