Lower-than-Expected Turnout and Ticket Scams Cloud Pope Leo XIV’s Massive Mass in Douala

DOUALA, Cameroon – Tens of thousands of faithful gathered under a blistering sun at the Japoma Stadium on Friday for the centerpiece of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Cameroon. While the event marked the largest gathering of the Pontiff’s 11-day African tour, the turnout of approximately 120,000 fell significantly short of the 600,000 participants organizers had originally anticipated.

The discrepancy in numbers has highlighted a mix of logistical hurdles and a predatory “fake ticket” scam that may have discouraged thousands from attending.

A Scammer’s Market

In the weeks leading up to the event, the Catholic Church was forced to issue multiple warnings after reports emerged that scammers were selling fraudulent “entry passes.” Despite the Vatican’s insistence that all liturgical events are free of charge, posters on social media advertised seats ranging from 10,000 CFA francs ($16) to “VIP packages” costing as much as 100,000 CFA francs ($165).

Local officials believe these scams, targeting pilgrims from across Central Africa, created widespread confusion and financial loss, likely keeping many low-income families away from the stadium gates.

Heat and Hardship

Those who did make it faced grueling conditions. With temperatures soaring to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, thousands spent the night outside the stadium to secure a spot. The stadium’s location on the outskirts of Douala, combined with heavy security cordons and road closures, turned the pilgrimage into an endurance test that many elderly and vulnerable followers were unable to complete.

A Message of Resistance

Undeterred by the empty seats in the upper tiers of the stadium, Pope Leo XIV delivered a pointed homily aimed at Cameroon’s youth. Addressing a nation grappling with economic instability and internal conflict, the Pope urged the next generation to resist the “illusion of easy money” and the “rot of corruption.”

“Do not let your hearts be hardened by the material poverty that surrounds you,” the Pope said, his voice echoing through the stadium. He further criticized global spending, lamenting the billions spent on weaponry while “the cries of the hungry in Africa go unanswered.

The Pope departed Douala on Saturday morning for Luanda, Angola, the third leg of his journey. Vatican officials are expected to coordinate more closely with Angolan authorities to prevent a repeat of the ticketing misinformation that hampered the Cameroon visit.