New Delhi, April 16 -- Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon on Wednesday where he delivered a masterclass on wielding authority legitimately to President Paul Biya, who consolidated his four-decade grip on power with a contested election last year that gave him an eighth term in office.

The Vatican had said fighting corruption in the mineral-rich central African country would be one of the themes of Leo's visit, and the American pope didn't hold back in addressing Biya and government authorities in an address at the presidential palace.

"In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption - which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility - must be broken," Leo said. "Hearts must be set free from an idolatrous thirs...