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Côte d’Ivoire: Encouraging religions to be a force for peace and social cohesion
On the occasion of the Eid al-Adha celebration, observed this week, by the Muslim community, Cardinal Ignace Dogbo Bessi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan and President of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism, Biblical Apostolate, and Interreligious Dialogue, sent a message of fraternity to the Ivorian Muslim community. In his address, the prelate emphasized that religions should remain forces of peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
Marcel Ariston Blé – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Muslim faithful around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha, commonly known in West Africa as, Tabaski. In Côte d’Ivoire, this celebration was marked by a strong call for brotherhood and togetherness. In his message, Cardinal Ignace Dogbo Bessi extended his “fraternal, warm, and sincere wishes” to the Ivorian Muslim community. Highlighting the spiritual importance of this major Islamic festival, the Cardinal recalled that it embodies the values of faith, sacrifice, obedience to God, sharing, and solidarity. For the prelate, this celebration also constitutes “a powerful call to fraternity, compassion, and respect for human dignity.”
Celebrating Tabaski in Côte d’Ivoire 2026
Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik Al-Kamil
In his message, the President of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism, Biblical Apostolate, and Interreligious Dialogue also underscored the special significance of this celebration in the context of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, whom he presented as “a universal figure of peace, fraternity, and encounter.”
Reflecting on the historic meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik Al-Kamil of Egypt in 1219, during a time of crusades and religious tensions, Cardinal Ignace Dogbo Bessi noted that this spiritual heritage remains highly relevant in the face of contemporary challenges. “This spiritual legacy of peace challenges today’s societies confronted with violence, identity divisions, extremism, and social crises,” he emphasised.
For the Archbishop of Abidjan, this historical memory reminds us that “religions must remain forces of peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion,” while underlining that “diversity is not a threat but a divine will.”
Celebrating Tabaski in Côte d’Ivoire 2026
A Call to reject hatred and violence
The prelate further called on all believers to reject “hate speech, manipulations, and violence,” which, in his view, weaken communities.
He urged everyone to promote a society founded on “justice, fraternity, solidarity, and mutual respect.” Cardinal Ignace Dogbo Bessi also wished that this year’s Eid al-Adha be a time of blessings, inner peace, sharing, and renewed hope for all Muslim families in Côte d’Ivoire.
Concrete Islamic-Christian dialogue
At the Mohammed VI Great Mosque in Treichville, where Muslims commemorated this festival, Rector El Hadj Sounta Moustapha praised the presence of Father Gilles César Dogoua Dapéa, National Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism, Biblical Apostolate, and Interreligious Dialogue. “Seeing a Catholic Christian with us at the mosque on this festive day is a sign of faith,” he said, seeing it as a powerful illustration of living together in Côte d’Ivoire.
“It is this that breaks down barriers between Muslim and Christian brothers and sisters. When we see ourselves together, believers will understand that Côte d’Ivoire is a country where fraternity, unity, social cohesion, and faith in God bring us together,” he added.
For his part, Father Gilles César Dogoua Dapéa expressed his joy in being able to testify to the Catholic Church’s closeness to the Muslim community during this major Islamic festival. “We want to demonstrate that together we form one family. It is together, hand in hand, that we can advance our country and bring about genuine peace, sincerely from the heart, for the good of all and the happiness of everyone,” he affirmed.
Celebrating Tabaski in Côte d’Ivoire 2026
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