By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV touched down at the Yaounde International Airport at 2:56 pm on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 on board ITA Airways to begin his four-day pastoral visit to the Central African country.
This is the second leg of his tour of four African countries after visiting Algeria.
In Yaounde, he was received at the foot of the plane by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, and the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, HE Jose Avelino Bettencourt.
After the presentation of a bouquet of flowers by two young Cameroonians (female and male), and the singing of the anthems of the Vatican and Cameroon, he was introduced for warm greetings by the Minister of External Relations, HE Lejeune Mbella Mbella, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, the Governor of the Centre Region, Naseri Paul Bea, the Yaounde City Mayor, and the Senior Divisional Officer of Mefou and Afamba.
Religious leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, led by the Apostolic Nuncio and Archbishop Andrew Nkea, among others, also gave His Holiness a hearty welcome.
Meanwhile, after moving in-between the 24-member honour squadron mounted by elements of the Presidential Guard, he was led into the Presidential Lounge by the PM for a brief meeting.
He stepped out of the plane at 3:15 pm prompt.
The Post gathered that the military honours given him was because he is the Head of State of the Vatican.
The swords held by the honour squadron with one pointing to a direction signified the military’s commitment in protecting the Pope, the Roman Catholic Faith and the Church.
It showed that religion and the military blend for the good of humanity.
Meanwhile, the flags of the Vatican and that of Cameroon floating at full-mast signified that they have full powers for dialogue and collaboration.