Founded in 1965, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic hierarchy (i.e., diocesan, coadjutor, and auxiliary bishops) in those countries.
[1] The Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa was founded in 1966, with Archbishop of Algiers Cardinal Léon-Étienne Duval as its first president.
[2] The five bishops present were Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham, Claude Rault, Gabriel Piroird, Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, and Alphonse Georger.
[3] The trip ended on October 9, when the bishops went to St. Peter's Square to hear Pope Francis' public address.
Francis personally addressed the bishops from North Africa, calling for them to "consolidate our fraternal relations with Muslims.