Pope Leo XIV has condemned the "handful of tyrants" exploiting Earth through war and greed. He delivered a peace message in Bamenda, Cameroon, amid a long-standing separatist conflict. Cameroonians celebrated his visit, hoping it will draw global attention to the violence affecting the region. Leo led a peace meeting with religious leaders, emphasizing the importance of interfaith efforts to end the conflict. He warned against using religion for military and economic gain, calling for a shift away from exploitation. The conflict has deep colonial roots, with thousands killed and displaced. Despite a temporary pause in fighting, peace talks remain stalled.

Exploratory oil drilling off the coast of Brazil's Amazon rainforest are reshaping life in Oiapoque, a small city in the poor state of Amapa that is receiving thousand of migrants looking for work. Newcomers are clearing forest for makeshift housing as they wait and hope for jobs that may result from the drilling being done by Petrobras, Brazil's state oil company. While the prospect of economic opportunities is bringing hope, the impacts of unplanned urban growth in a city with already poor infrastructure are being felt. Environmental groups warn a spill could devastate fisheries and wetlands while Indigenous leaders also fear the project threatens their territory and way of life.