France, April 16 -- Pope Leo is set to shine a spotlight on grassroots peacebuilding in Cameroon's troubled Anglophone regions, as he presides on Thursday over an interfaith meeting in Bamenda bringing together religious and traditional leaders from across the divide.

The gathering - which will include a Mankon traditional chief, a Presbyterian moderator, an imam and a Catholic nun - aims to highlight a growing interfaith movement that has been working quietly to ease tensions, support traumatised communities and foster dialogue in a conflict that has dragged on for years.

Later in the day, the pontiff will celebrate Mass for the people of Bamenda, a city near Cameroon's western border with Nigeria that has been deeply affected by the v...