The visiting Secretary of State of the Holy See, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin has discussed possibilities of finding a lasting solution to the ongoing armed conflict in the North West and South West regions with the president of the Republic, Paul Biya.
Pope's envoy received at Unity Palace
This was during an audience granted the representative of the Pope at the Unity Palace Friday 29 January 2021 on the second day of his visit to Cameroon.
The Vatican envoy told reporters at the end of the audience he and Biya discussed about “…the different points about conflicts, about problems especially about the situation in the North West and South West of the country”.
He once more reiterated the willingness of Vatican and the Church to assist government find a lasting solution to the over four years worsening conflict.
“In this present situation where there is crisis, it is important to reach peace. It is the only condition to grow and to achieve a sustainable development everywhere,” he added.
He extended a message of peace and reconciliation from the Pope to all Cameroonians. Shortly before the Unity Palace audience, the visiting Pope’s envoy had an in camera meeting with the Bishops of Cameroon at the National Episcopal Conference where the prelates expressed their desire to see peace restored in the two troubled regions.
The President of the National Episcopal Conference, His Lordship Abraham Kome described the relationship between the state and the church as cordial, adding that the leadership of the church is making much efforts to restore peace in the two regions.
Worth noting is the fact that the Catholic Church has being at the fore, calling for a peaceful end to the crisis which later morphed into an armed conflict.
In 2016, the Bishops of the two regions issued a memo to the president in which they identified with some of the points raised by Anglophone lawyers and teachers as genuine, calling of government to end the crisis and look into the concerns.
The Bishops have on several occasions called on government and separatist to drop their guns, dialogue and find lasting solution to the armed conflict. They were actively involved in the Major National Dialogue to seek solutions to the crisis.
His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin is expected to visit the North West region where he will at the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamenda, honour His Grace Andrew Nkea with special recognition, the Pallium – a symbol of authority from Pope Francis.
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