1Morocco is a Muslim country where freedom of religion is only possible for Moroccan Jews and foreigners. This situation was altered by the country’s new migration policy which, from 2015 to 2018, regularised the status of nearly 50,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, most of Christian faith, from sub-Saharan Africa. This regularisation enriched the country in many ways, notably by questioning religious practices. Churches, which had fallen into disuse since the end of the French protectorate, started filling up again, and this Christian dynamic had to find its place.

Service at the Evangelical Church of Rabat, Morocco.

2This resulted in the reorganisation of Christianity in Morocco, as well as a theological renewal. To limit the uncertainties generated by the massive influx of Christians, a few Christian religious leaders from France and sub-Saharan Africa created an Institute of Theology in Rabat, training clerics capable of running the country’s many, often informal churches. This institute was studied in situ by an anthropologist to understand how religion is shaped by migration realities.

3Within the Al Mowafaqa Institute, future leaders are trained in Protestant and Catholic theology for four years while also studying Islam, Judaism, religious history and languages such as Hebrew, Greek and Arabic. The objective is to support Christian leaders in a land reconnecting with Christianity, which had thus far been extinct or remained hidden but is re-emerging with migrations and whose identity is built in relation to others, local society and Islam.

4These changes also question the cultural and religious principles of Moroccan society. In March 2019, the King of Morocco, Commander of the Faithful, invited the pope to meet so that they could discuss topics that run through their religions, including issues relating to migrations, welcome and hospitality.

Temple in a migrant camp, Morocco.