This “Religion and decolonization” workshop, held alternately between the University of Fribourg and KU Leuven, is organized by the research group “The Global Pontificate of Pius XII: Catholicism in a Divided World (1945-1958)”. The objective of this second edition is to intersect religious and political perspectives on decolonization.

Two recent books focusing on French decolonization in Africa will be presented by their authors:
– Marialuisa Lucia Sergio, How the Church Under Pius XII Addressed Decolonization: The Issue of Algerian Independence
– Nicolas Bancel, Décolonisations ? Élites, jeunesse et pouvoir en Afrique occidentale française (1945-1960)

Two PhD students from the “The Global Pontificate of Pius XII” will present their research:
– Aurel Dewarrat, The Catholic Church and Decolonization in Cameroon : Politico-religious perspectives
– Sam Kuijken, «La Chiesa e lo Stato Belga siano due cose veramente distinte»: Church-State relations and Decolonization in Belgian Congo