The Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa was founded on the basic principles of Saint John Paul II's call to action in Ecclesia in Africa and the adoption of the statement A Call to Solidarity with Africa from the bishops of the United States. "The critical challenges and enormous potential facing Africa today serve as the opportunity for--and test of--our mutual solidarity. Our response to this vocation of solidarity with the Church and peoples of Africa enables us to express love 'in deed and in truth' (1 John 3:18), a love that creates no borders and sets no limits to what might be accomplished together in Christ."