Promoting inter-religious dialogue on the Ivory Coast

His Eminence, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, accompanied by Reverend Father Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, Secretary of the same Pontifical Council and by Monsignor Lucio Sembrano, Official of that same Dicastery, will travel to the Ivory Coast from March 13 to 17 of this year.

The reason for the visit is mainly to participate in the celebration of the 110th Anniversary of the Evangelization of the Great North in the Diocese of Korhogo.

The delegation from the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue will meet with the academic community of the Catholic University of West Africa (UCAO) in Abidjan Cocody.  In Yamoussoukro, Cardinal Tauran will meet the Episcopal Conference of the Ivory Coast an will preside at the concelebrated Eucharist in the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.

The visit will also furnish an opportunity to promote and to give major support to inter-religious dialogue in the Ivory Coast as a sign of respect and friendship, as expressed by Pope Francis.  In fact, meetings are planned with significant personalities from other religious traditions, in particular Isalm and the traditional African religions, first in Korhogo and then in Yamoussoukro and in Abidjan.

On March 17, Cardinal Tauran will meet privately with the President of the Republic of the Ivory Coast, His Excellency, Alessane Ouattara.