Ruptly
"As Pope Leo XIV's visit to Cameroon nears, the Catholic Church has warned of online scams targeting worshippers, including the sale of fake tickets for papal masses. Footage captured on Friday shows devotees praying at Douala's Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, as well as at the Marian Grotto. "It is a divine event. Satanism cannot even gain ground," said Augustine Wendung, a Catholic devotee. "Some scammers wanted to take money from the pockets of poor Cameroonians. Do we pay when God comes? No, we pay nothing. The National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon has already denied this, stating that no tickets are required," he continued. It follows reports of fraudulent WhatsApp stickers advertising fake tickets ranging from standard to VIP, priced at up to 100,000 Central African francs (around $165). The Church said the attempts were meant to extort money. The Apostolic Nunciature in Cameroon and the National Episcopal Conference issued statements denying the sale of any tickets, stressing that all events presided over by the Pope in Douala, Yaounde and Bamenda will be free. "We hope that this is not just a burst of enthusiasm [...] but that it truly marks a new beginning," Father Gustave Mohomye stated. "The Pope comes because he loves Cameroon and genuinely wants all Cameroonians to be happy, that the conflicts in the Northwest and Southwest may end, that the problems of youth and immigration issues may be resolved," he added He noted that the Church has set up a free ticket system through parishes and church centres to manage crowds safely, emphasising that the visit's main purpose is to deliver a message of 'peace' and 'reconciliation.' Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Cameroon from April 15 to 18, 2026, marking his first trip to the country following an invitation from President Paul Biya."
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