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Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
Press Release
Consultative Workshop for Bishops Coordinating Commissions for Interreligious Dialogue in Africa and Madagascar

The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue is organizing a continental consultative workshop for the Bishops who coordinate the Commissions for Interreligious Dialogue in Africa and Madagascar, from April 9th to 10th 2024, at Donum Dei Roussel House in Nairobi, Kenya.

The theme of this workshop is Christianity in Dialogue with Islam and African Traditional Religions (ATR): Challenges and Opportunities. In addition to Bishops, other participants will include Pastoral Agents and Scholars. These participants will be from a range of countries including Morocco, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Togo, Mozambique, Republic Democratic of Congo, and Kenya.

In a context of continuous conflicts and violence, this workshop offers a platform to discuss the prevailing situation in Africa and Madagascar, and to explore ways and means for addressing it interreligiously, in view of building a culture of peace and fraternity. In addition, in response to the growing interreligious challenges, participants will have the opportunity to evaluate the actual relevance and application of the letter sent by this Dicastery to Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of Africa and Madagascar on the Pastoral Attention to African Traditional Religion (1988), as well as the Guideline for Teaching Interreligious Dialogue, African Traditional Religion (ATR) and Islam: For Use in the Catholic Major Seminaries, Catholic Houses of Religious Formation and Catholic Institute of Higher Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa (2004).

The workshop also intends to facilitate collaboration among various national and regional episcopal commissions in Africa and Madagascar.