The Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic announced the day before in a press release the official publication of this work this Thursday.
According to the note from Minister Samuel Mvondo Ayolo dated April 1st, 2026, the souvenir song of Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Cameroon is the work entitled ‘’His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, Welcome to Cameroon, Land of Hope’’. It is performed by ‘’La Voix du Cénacle’’, the artistic legacy of the late Professor Gervais Mendo Ze. This artistic production was supervised by the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic under the coordination of Mr. Paul Atanga Nji, Minister of Territorial Administration, the Director of the Civil Cabinet specified in his communication.
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Composed by Father Simplice Vladimir Bidzanga for the lyrics and Dr. Rosny Frédéric M. Mbida for the music, this work was selected following a competition. The competition was organized by the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon as a prelude to Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic visit to Cameroon.
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Here is the welcome song for Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon
»His Holiness (Welcome), Welcome (Welcome) !
Hosanna ! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord !
Chorus
Leo XIV, Pastor of Peace,
On the land of Cameroon, be welcome !
Christ gathers us, the Spirit leads us,
Together, let us walk towards the Light !
1
From the banks of the Wouri to the savannas of the North,
The people of God sing of your arrival.
Amutara azu ! (For the Father arrives !)
Azu a nnam Kamërun, nnam mvòè. (He comes to Cameroon, land of peace.)
You bring the key, you open our hearts,
Under the benevolent gaze of the Creator.
II
From the Sanaga to the peaks of Mount Mandara,
Our hands join for a single prayer.
O sese, O mulema mwa mbe mwaloba ! (O joy, the heart is the door of God !)
Nwi lë gha, mbuon dzwi ! (God is there, peace is there !)
Leo XIV, torchbearer of hope,
Make the glory of His face shine upon us.
III
You are Petrus, and on this rock,
Africa builds its faith and its light.
From North to South, from East to West, one body,
Cameroon acclaims you with one accord.
Bless our children, heal our pains,
And sow the seed of Love in our hearts.
Chorus (English)
Leo the Fourteenth, Pastor of Peace,
Welcome to the land Cameroon!
Christ brings us together, the Spirit guides us,
Together, let us walk towards the Light!
Chorus 2
Under your pastoral staff we walk,
United in the faith of the Risen One ;
May Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala
Become the cenacle of nations.
Coda
One heart, one prayer,
Leo XIV, Pastor of light,
Welcome to the land of lions, One heart, one prayer,
Cameroon, sing in unison !
Hosanna, Glory to the Lord!
Peace on our Nation,
God bless Cameroon, Hosanna, Glory to the Lord.’’
Author – Lyrics : Father Simplice Vladimir BIDZANGA
Music : Dr Rosny Frédéric M. MBIDA
