Elizabeth A. Foster

Decolonizing Faith crosses borders between France and its sub-Saharan African colonies to delve into the complexity of Catholic positions on the future of French Africa before and just after independence, from 1945 until 1965. It draws on evidence from French missionaries in Africa and their superiors in France, African Catholic students in France destined to become leaders in their home countries, African Catholic intellectuals, young African clergymen, Vatican officials, and French and African lay activists. Linking European history, African history, and religious studies, this project provides a new history of late colonialism, decolonization, and mid-century Catholic reform.