Pope Francis on June 23, 2018, encouraged representatives of the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) during an audience at the Vatican. The OAIC represents 60 million members of various Christian denominations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“A particular task of Christians in African societies is that of fostering the coexistence of differing ethnic groups, traditions, languages, and religions, a task that often meets with obstacles due to grave mutual antagonisms,” the Holy Father said. “For this reason too, I would like to encourage greater encounter and ecumenical dialogue between ourselves and with all the other Churches. May the Holy Spirit shed his light upon us, so that we may succeed in discovering how best to promote cooperation between all – Christians, traditional religions, Muslims – for the sake of a better future for Africa.”