In a video message circulated on Wednesday, March 11, NECC President, Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya, explained the symbolism embedded in the design, approved by the Holy See.
“The logo for the Pope's visit is out. That logo was prepared by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon and proposed to the Holy See, and the Vatican has approved that logo as the official logo for the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon,” Archbishop Nkea said.
He explained that the logo features the silhouette of the Pope, symbolizing the anticipated presence and mission of the Holy Father in the Central African nation.
“It's not his photo, but it's the representation of the Holy Father. That signifies that it is the Holy Father who is coming to Cameroon, and you see it is at the right-hand corner, and you see the Holy Father is looking over Cameroon, showing his benevolence, his goodwill, and his willingness to come to Cameroon,” he said.
The map of Cameroon, displayed in the national colours, represents the Pope’s message to the entire nation, the Local Ordinary of Bamenda Archdiocese said.
“It is the Holy Father visiting Cameroon. The map of Cameroon represents the whole country. You can see that map in the national colors, green, red, and yellow. So beginning from Kousseri down to Kyé-Ossi, we are all involved. It's something for the whole of Cameroon,” he said.
Archbishop Nkea emphasized that the visit goes beyond the Christian community.
“The Holy Father is not coming here for Christians. He's coming here for the whole of the Cameroonian population,” he said.
Another key symbol in the logo is the cross, which reflects the pastoral nature of the Pope’s journey.
“The visit of the Holy Father is apostolic. He is coming here to Cameroon as the Vicar of Christ. He is coming here to Cameroon to preach the good news. His mission here is basically apostolic. His mission here is evangelical,” the Catholic Church leader said.
He added that the crucifix highlights the central message of Christ.
“Therefore, the Holy Father is coming to preach like Saint Paul, Jesus Christ crucified,” Archbishop Nkea said.
The logo also includes a Marian symbol beneath the cross, referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of Cameroon.
“Below that crucifix, we have the Ave Maria sign. Greetings to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross, who at the same time is the mother of Jesus Christ and the patroness of Cameroon,” Archbishop Nkea said.
He recalled that the country was consecrated to Mary when missionaries arrived in the late 19th century.
“In 1890, when the missionaries came here, this country was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. And since that time, the Blessed Virgin Mary always intercedes for this country when we call upon her,” he said.
At the center of the map is the dove representing the Holy Spirit, whose rays extend across all regions of the country.
“That Holy Spirit spreads out its rays from far north to far south, from far east to far west,” the Archbishop said, adding, “Therefore, the work which the Holy Father is going to come and do in Cameroon is going to be by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
He continued, “It is the Holy Spirit that is going to accomplish this work that the Holy Father is coming to do in Cameroon. We say, not by might, not by strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
An open Bible at the base of the logo represents the central mission of the visit: proclaiming the Word of God.
“This is what the Holy Father is coming to preach here. The Word of God,” Archbishop Nkea said, citing St. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to “insist on the Word of God, in season and out of season.”
The Archbishop also explained the meaning of the visit’s motto, “May they all be one,” taken from the Gospel of John 17:21
“Then if you look at that Bible, that they may all be one, from John chapter 17:21 is appealing to the unity of peoples, unity of Christians, unity with non-Christians, unity with even other denominations,” he said.
He noted that the message of unity is particularly important for Cameroon.
“We have a lot of divisions in Cameroon. We have a lot of ethnic divisions in our country, language divisions, but we are all one people,” he said.
Archbishop Nkea clarified that the unity referred to in the motto is spiritual rather than political.
“May they all be one is not a political slogan. It is a oneness in Jesus Christ, a oneness in God who made heaven and earth,” he said.
The Local ordinary of Bamenda continued, “The blood that flows in our veins, whether you are Christian, you are Muslim, you are a traditional religious adherent, we all have the same blood flowing in our veins.”
The logo also incorporates the Pope’s Episcopal motto, which reflects this theme of unity.
“And then, if you'll see, we are concluding this with the motto of the Holy Father… ‘In Illo uno unum.’ In the one, we are one. We believe in the one God and in that one God, we are all one,” Archbishop Nkea said.
He said the logo summarizes the mission of the papal visit.
“Anybody who picks up that logo and looks at it can now see all these symbols… how these symbols represent what the Holy Father is coming to do in Cameroon,” he said.
As preparations intensify for the papal visit, the Catholic Church in Cameroon has also shared a special prayer inviting the faithful to spiritually accompany the journey of Pope Leo XIV.
PRAYER FOR THE APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF POPE LEO XIV
Lord our God, Father of all goodness,
You who sent your Son Jesus Christ into the world to save us,
We give you thanks for the Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV to our land, Cameroon.
Grant your servant strength and wisdom.
May his words, carried by the power of the Holy Spirit, flood our hearts and bring us the graces of reconciliation, justice, peace, and healing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, may his Apostolic Journey:
Strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between our cultures;
Comfort the afflicted and give hope to our youth;
Strengthen our faith, hope, and charity;
Bear fruits of conversion and national harmony.
Holy Mary, Queen of the Apostles and Patroness of Cameroon, intercede for us.
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!
Amen.