Pope Leo XIV Urges Catholic University Students in Cameroon to Seek Truth and Serve Their Nation
On April 17, 2026, Pope Leo XIV addressed students, faculty, and guests at the Catholic Academic Institution of Central Africa (UCAC) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, during his apostolic journey to Central Africa. Speaking to over 2,000 students from six Central African nations, the Pope emphasized that education must be guided by “the light of faith, joined to the truth of love,” drawing inspiration from St. John Henry Newman’s teachings on the unity of truth and divine purpose.
He called upon the academic community to embrace the pursuit of truth as both their life’s aim and way of living, stating that “all true principles run over with God, all phenomena converge to him,” as Newman wrote. The Pontiff highlighted the unique role of Catholic universities in fostering communities where faith and reason illuminate one another, urging students and professors to cultivate fraternity in knowledge and service.
To commemorate the visit, UCAC inaugurated a campus square named after St. Augustine in honor of Pope Leo XIV. Plans are underway for the construction of a university hospital dedicated to the Pontiff, to be known as the Leo XIV Catholic University Center.
The Pope also cautioned students against the temptation to seek opportunities abroad after graduation, encouraging them instead to apply their education to improve living conditions in their home countries. He affirmed that universities should be “true communities of life and research,” contributing to national development and solidarity.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Yaoundé was part of a broader apostolic journey that took him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea from April 13 to 23, 2026. The journey included engagements with government leaders, civil society, and religious communities across the four nations.
His message to the students underscored the enduring mission of Catholic education: to form individuals who seek truth not for personal gain alone, but to serve the common decent and build a more just and compassionate society.