Tunis (Fides Service)- “As we approach the festivity of Easter we are happy to announce that St Joseph’s Catholic Church on the Island of Djerba will be reopened”. This announcement signed by Archbishop Fouad Twal of Tunis was sent to Fides.
The Tunisian government decided to re-open the church for worship following numerous requests from tourists, especially Germans and Italians, who spend their holidays on the Island and wish to be able to go to church at Easter.
On the basis of an agreement signed by the Tunisian government and the Holy See in 1964 the local Catholic Church ceded certain places of worship to the state to be used for purposes compatible with the Catholic faith. However the same agreement stipulated that, should the need arise, the Church may request for the places of worship to be reopened. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/3/2005 righe 35 parole 446)