April 17 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV held a mass on Friday in Douala, Cameroon, in a stadium with an estimated 120,000 people, marking Catholicism's growth in Africa.
The pope discussed poverty, violence and corruption in his address to the people of Cameroon, where about 30% of the population is Catholic.
About 20% of the world's Catholic population lives in Africa.
"Do not give in to distrust and discouragement," the pope said. "Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart and makes it insensitive. Do not forget that your people are even richer than this land, for your treasure lies in your values: faith, family, hospitality and work."
More than 37.7 million people live in poverty in Cameroon. The pope shared the story of Jesus multiplying loaves and fish, saying the "miracle" happened when they were shared.
