“Destroy weapons, heal the heart”: Douala Archbishop Sets New Year Agenda of Forgiveness, Justice, Peace for Cameroon

Rejecting violence as a false solution to Cameroon’s crises, the Local Ordinary of Douala Archdiocese since November 2009 had a message for all who bear arms or justify armed conflict. “Let us destroy all weapons of war and stop fighting one another,” he said, warning that violence breeds only fear, terror, and death, never peace.

Reflecting on the struggles of the people of God in Cameroon, the Catholic Church leader said many Cameroonians today lack what he called “peace of heart,” weighed down by economic hardship and social insecurity. 

He listed some of the realities eroding hope, including youth unemployment, limited access to healthcare, food insecurity, shortages of water and electricity, prolonged pretrial detention, internal displacement caused by conflict, and widespread poverty, among others.

“Cameroon is a very rich country, yet many of our people feel forced to emigrate,” Archbishop Kleda observed, describing the situation as a troubling paradox that demands serious reflection and urgent action. 

He noted that insecurity, corruption, and injustice continue to undermine social cohesion and stall national development.

Still, the Catholic Archbishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in February 2001 as Bishop of Cameroon’s Batouri Catholic Diocese sought to encourage those who feel overwhelmed by fear or discouragement. 

“Every obstacle we encounter is a grace that helps us to grow,” he said, inviting Cameroonians to see even painful experiences as opportunities for transformation and solidarity.

Addressing Cameroon’s ongoing conflicts, particularly in the North-West, South-West, and Far North regions, Archbishop Kleda issued a moral challenge to those who sustain or profit from violence. 

He warned that anyone who deliberately fuels conflict will be judged “first by the court of history and then by the divine court” for the bloodshed of innocent people.

In his January 1 homily, the Catholic Church leader also pointed to signs of hope, praising the spirit of solidarity shown in Douala, where displaced persons fleeing violence have been welcomed. He said the city has opened its doors to those affected by conflict, receiving them “as brothers and sisters,” a gesture he presented as a living example of the Gospel in action.

Unity, he stressed, must become a guiding principle for Cameroon in 2026. Drawing on a familiar proverb, he said, “One hand alone cannot tie a bundle,” underscoring the need for collective effort and mutual support. 

He clarified that true unity does not mean uniformity, but harmony rooted in diversity, likening it to the spirit of Pentecost rather than the confusion of the Tower of Babel.

Archbishop Kleda emphasized reconciliation, reminding the people of God that restoring broken relationships takes precedence even over acts of worship. Quoting Scripture, he said, “If your brother has something against you, go first and be reconciled,” insisting that responsibility for peace does not lie only with the one perceived to be at fault.

Forgiveness, he insisted, must be generous and persistent. It is not a one-time gesture, he said, but a continuous commitment that must be renewed again and again. Forgiveness, he added, “must be offered not just once, but seventy times seven.”

Warning against hardened attitudes, Archbishop Kleda said that “resentment, refusal to forgive, and hardened attitudes make peace impossible, reviving tensions and perpetuating conflict.” Genuine peace, he explained, “requires honest dialogue, acknowledgment of shared responsibility, and a sincere commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation.”

(Story continues below)

Turning to leadership and governance, he called on political and social leaders to take concrete responsibility for peace by responding to the real suffering of the population. He urged them to “leave their offices and engage directly with the daily realities of ordinary Cameroonians,” cautioning that indifference to suffering breeds despair and erodes public trust.

Peace, Archbishop Kleda insisted, cannot endure without justice and development. Condemning corruption as a grave injustice, he said the nation’s resources belong to “all Cameroonians, not a privileged few.” 

He urged both leaders and citizens to “reject greed and to serve the common good, following the example of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.”

At the start of 2026, Archbishop Kleda called on all Cameroonians to become servants of peace, willing to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the nation. 

Entrusting the year to the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, he concluded his homily with a note of hope and prayer: “Let us commit ourselves to living this new year 2026 under the protection of the Mother of our Lord and our Mother. If we walk with her in recourse to her intercession during this new year, her Son will fill us with his graces and his blessings.”