Pope Leo Encourages African Youth to Stay, Serve Homelands Amid Rising Displacement Trends

(SeaPRwire) –   Pope Leo XIV on Friday encouraged young Africans to focus on improving their home countries instead of seeking better opportunities abroad through migration.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church addressed university students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon, during his 11-day pastoral visit to the continent.

“Faced with the understandable inclination to migrate, which might suggest that a better future is more readily found elsewhere, I urge you, first and foremost, to embrace a fervent desire to serve your country and to apply the knowledge you gain here for the benefit of your fellow citizens,” Pope Leo stated.

Amidst rising displacement in Africa due to economic and political challenges, Pope Leo emphasized that the continent’s younger generations should be “committed to society,” responsive to their nations’ needs, and actively address systemic issues domestically.

“Africa, in truth, must be liberated from the blight of corruption. For young people, this understanding must be ingrained during their formative years,” he asserted.

“These are the embodiments of wisdom and justice that the African continent requires.”

He further explained that through education and spiritual development, “you learn to become architects of the future of your respective nations and of a world that is more just and humane.”

According to the World Migration Report, the majority of displacement in Africa is internal, with 21 million Africans recorded as residing in another African country in 2020.

Migration from Africa to overseas destinations has also seen a consistent increase, more than doubling between 1990 and 2020.

In 2020, approximately 11 million Africans reportedly migrated to Europe, 5 million to Asia, and 3 million to North America.

The primary drivers of displacement are largely attributed to political conflict, corruption, violence, and economic hardship, including widespread poverty.

These issues are particularly acute in countries such as Somalia, a significant source of refugees in Africa; Nigeria, which faces numerous natural disasters and economic pressures; and the regions surrounding Sudan, where civil war, political instability, and food insecurity have led to extensive displacement.

The Pope’s remarks follow recent criticism from President Donald Trump, who on Truth Social described the Pope as “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy.”

This criticism emerged after the pontiff’s condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran and his call for peace.

Tensions between the two escalated days before the Pope stated last Saturday that it was “not in my interest at all” to engage in a debate with the president.

Pope Leo has maintained that his focus is on fostering unity among nations and promoting peace and reconciliation.