Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul Douala

The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is located in Douala, Cameroon, serving as the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Douala. It was constructed in 1936 by French Spiritans fathers and draws on the legacy of the Pallottines. The introduction of Catholicism in Cameroon traces back to Germany with the baptism of Andreas Kwa Mbange, a Cameroonian catechumen, on January 6, 1889. Born in 1873, he learned baking at age 14 and discovered Catholicism in a Benedictine monastery before requesting baptism. This event sparked discussions in Berlin and Rome about evangelization in Cameroon. In March 1890, Pope Leo XIII established the apostolic prefecture of Cameroon under Pallottines. On October 25, 1890, Father Vieter arrived in Douala with seven missionaries, celebrating the first Catholic mass in Cameroon the next day at the Woermann factory in Bonanjo. However, Protestant opposition forced them to leave by December 1890, leading to the establishment of the first mission in Marienberg. Language disputes over school instruction further fueled Catholic-Protestant rivalry. Following World War I, Pallottines were replaced by French Spiritans in 1916.

The cathedral features a Byzantine style with columns and domes, incorporating neo-Roman elements such as its porch. Twin towers flank the central front, enhancing its architectural grandeur.