After 41 Years Of Waiting : Bamenda Receives Its Second Pope In History

Residents and thousands of pilgrims who have flocked into Bamenda, capital of Cameroon’s North West Region woke up this Thursday morning, April 16, 2026 with an entirely different feeling. A distant deja-vu for many. And a first-timer for most of them. This day, Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Worldwide Roman Catholic Church was expected in town. And so the mood in town was expectedly expectant. 

Heightened Security, Blocked Road
As we drove to the Bamenda-Bafut Airport – with two and half hours to landing time, the road was already cut off to vehicle by stern-looking Presidential Guards brought in from Yaounde. And other security forces – the police and gendarmes – not to mention those in mufti.
Reason: aviation rules prohibit the mass gathering of people around airport precincts. But the tens of thousands would later be allowed in for the Pontifical mass at the same airport scheduled for 3pm local time.

All On Foot
And so everyone who came “late” was obliged to trek as far as they were allowed to come – passing through numerous body search and other checkpoints. As journalists, we were subjected to the same treatment. Though our jeep had a Laissez Passer issued by the Presidency. And we had our accreditation badges equally issued by the Presidency. We literally had to fight our way through to the airport.
Joining us in the six-metre trek to the airport – for that is where our vehicle was blocked and we and we had to alight to begin the long walk – were priests, the religious, and Catholic faithful and curious visitors. Both old and young. On the way, we met traditional dancers carrying their instruments. Or already in action, while waiting for the Pope to drive past later.

Only From Afar
Just on the twin hills overlooking Bamenda-Bafut Airport, the last set of pilgrims blocked there had no choice. But to climb to the hilltops and watch goings-on at the airport from distance about 800 metres. Finally, a group broke through the security cordon, but were held outside the other security cordon round the airport.
But as soon as the Pope drove out of the airport after landing at 10.45 am, crowds rushed to occupy the thousands of seats placed for the 3pm Pontifical Mass. There was no room for any vehicle out of the airport as a sea of human beings filled the road from Mankon Mile 8 to the airport, trekking to be part of the afternoon encounter with the Holy Father.

And So The Pope Finally Landed In Bamenda!
Pope Leo XIV’s Camair-Co airliner touched down at the Bamenda-Bafut Airport at 10.45 am, marking the second the...