Bafoussam: Bishop Paul Lontsie Keune calls on Christians to be pilgrims of peace.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, United States, His Lordship Jérôme Feudjio, was guest of honour.

In his message tile: “Let us be pilgrims of peace”, Bishop Lontsie Keune told thousands of faithful who gathered at the Cathedral after a peace walk in Bafoussam to be ambassadors of peace. 

His homily anchored on the Fifth Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”. Bishop Lontsie Keune challenged Christians to reject all forms of violence and to recover a sense of moral responsibility towards others.

“Be ashamed of shame,” he urged, describing the increasing trivialisation of violence as a serious threat to society.

He condemned sexual violence, rape of minors, infanticide, femicide, homicide, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, mob justice and other forms of inhuman and degrading treatment.

He insisted that no individual should take the law into their hands or assume the right to take another person’s life, regardless of the offence alleged against them.

Bishop Lontsie Keune said every human being possesses an inherent dignity as everybody is created in image and likeness of God. Quoting Genesis 1:26, he explained that the divine image makes every human life sacred and places an obligation on society to protect it.

He said human dignity does not depend on wealth, social position, abilities or personal choices. Rather, it is a gift that accompanies every human being from existence and cannot be legitimately taken away.

“By attacking the dignity of a human being, in whatever manner or degree, one directly attacks God Himself,” he stressed, linking the Christian understanding of human dignity to the principles of human rights.

The Bishop used other biblical references, including the story of Cain and Abel, to underline what he described as humanity’s duty to protect others. The biblical account, he noted, illustrates the consequences of violence and the responsibility individuals have towards their neighbours.

The Bishop further stressed on the need to respect human dignity even with the treatment of the dead. Citing the biblical example of Tobit, who buried abandoned corpses with dignity, he said every human being deserves respect in life and in death.

Bishop Lontsie Keune insisted that the fight against violence cannot stop at religious devotion. Christians, he said, must “pray and act” by becoming agents of reconciliation and peace in their families, communities and wider society.

He blamed the rise in deadly violence to bad governance, declining trust in institutions, poverty, socio-economic inequalities, youth unemployment, armed conflicts, insecurity, drug consumption and the normalisation of violence in public life.

The factors, he said, are a result of several crises. He said citizens no longer feel adequately protected or recognized by the judicial system, added to weakened social bonds weaken, lack of hope for the future. 

Bishop Lontsie Keune said combating violence requires more than security measures. He underscored the need for good governance, greater social and economic opportunities, civic and moral education, dialogue and stronger community solidarity.

The Bishop commended efforts by authorities and others to identify and apprehend perpetrators of violent crimes, describing such action as necessary in bringing justice to grieving families and communities.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3884 of Thursday August 20, 2026