YAOUNDE - Pope Leo on Wednesday urged Cameroon's government to root out corruption and resist "the whims of the rich and powerful", in a forceful speech given in the presence of President Paul Biya, who has led the country since 1982.
Leo, who was criticized by US President Donald Trump for a second time during his 10-day tour of four African countries, also called for an end to Cameroon's simmering Anglophone conflict, which has killed thousands.
"It is time to examine our conscience and take a bold leap forward," the first US pope told Biya, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and other leaders shortly after arriving in Cameroon from Algeria.
Trump criticism
Leo, who will mark one year as pope in May, kept a relatively low profile for a pope in his first 10 months but in recent weeks has become outspoken on a range of issues, notably the Iran conflict.
That has made him a target this week for criticism from Trump, who reiterated his comments in a social media post on Tuesday, despite a widespread backlash from US Christians across the political spectrum.
Leo told Reuters on Monday he would keep criticizing the conflict, regardless of Trump's comments.
ALSO READ: Pope Leo's critique of Trump ends honeymoon with conservative Catholics
Speaking on his flight to Cameroon, Leo did not speak about Trump directly. He urged respect for all the people of the world and said his tour has shown the importance of pursuing dialogue between different communities.
Separatists vow safe travel for visitors
Cameroon is a former German colony that was partitioned by Britain and France after World War One. Over the last decade, thousands have died in violence between government forces and separatist groups in its two English-speaking regions.
A separatist alliance has said it will observe a three-day "safe travel passage" to allow civilians and visitors to move freely during the pope's visit.
Leo, who also referred on Wednesday to conflicts with Nigeria-based militant groups such as Boko Haram in Cameroon's north, lamented how fighting was depriving young people of education and hope for the future.
"Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction and exile!" he said.
Complicated tour involves 11 cities
Thousands of people, many wearing colorful fabrics, lined the streets in Yaounde as the pope was driven from the airport to the presidential palace, some dancing and singing under a brilliant afternoon sun.
Billboards on the streets showed an image of Leo and Biya with the message in French and English: "Welcome to Cameroon, Land of Hope."
Leo, aged 70, relatively young for a pope and in good health, is undertaking one of the most complicated tours arranged for a pontiff in decades.
He is traversing nearly 18,000 km over 18 flights to 11 cities and towns and will also visit Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
READ MORE: Pope Leo tells Catholic bishops not to hide abuse allegations
The pope will travel on Thursday to Bamenda, Cameroon's biggest English-speaking city, holding Mass and a "meeting for peace" in a cathedral.
The biggest event of Leo's tour will likely come in Cameroon on Friday, when the Vatican said some 600,000 are expected for a Mass in the coastal city of Douala.
