White Fathers
Missionarii Africae | |
| Abbreviation | M.Afr. |
|---|---|
| Nickname | White Fathers |
| Formation | 1868 |
| Founder | Archbishop Charles-Martial Allemand-Lavigerie |
| Founded at | Algiers, French Algeria |
| Type | Society of apostolic life of pontifical right (for men) |
| Headquarters | Via Aurelia 269, Rome, Italy |
| Membership | 1,371 members (includes 1,029 priests) as of 2020 |
Superior General | Fr. Stanley Lubungo, M. Afr. |
Ministries | Evangelism and education |
Parent organization | Roman Catholic Church |
| Website | mafrome |
The White Fathers (French: Pères Blancs), officially known as the Missionaries of Africa (Latin: Missionarii Africae), and abbreviated MAfr, are a Roman Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right (for men). They were founded in 1868 by Charles-Martial Allemand-Lavigerie, who was then the Archbishop of Algiers. The society focuses on evangelization and education, primarily in Africa. As of 2021, the Missionaries of Africa comprised 1,428 members from 36 nationalities, working in 42 countries across 217 communities.