POPE John Paul II making a brief visit to Tunis yesterday, made, an impassioned appeal for dialogue between Christians and Muslims and attacked religions fundamentalism in any guise.
Pope John Paul, the first pope to visit Tunisia, also called for the release of seven French Trappist monks kidnapped on March 27th by Islamic extremists in Tunisia's western neighbour, Algeria.
On his 70th foreign trip since 1978, the Pope celebrated Mass in the 100 year old cathedral in Tunis before some 1,500 people representing the country's small Catholic community.
It was his first Mass in an Arab Muslim country and he declared: "Diverse of language, culture, origin, you are the living image of a universal church. The ferments of unity and solidarity should emerge from your links with the North and the South, East and West."
Afterwards, he met members of the Episcopal Conference of North Africa, including bishops from Algeria where several priests and nuns have been killed or abducted by Islamic militants.
With them, he prayed "that peace and reconciliation come quickly to Algerian soil, in the just respect of differences", and also voiced solidarity with the Libyan people living under a UN embargo "which seriously affects the daily life of the population."
He also launched an appeal for peace in Africa and in countries of the Mediterranean region, in particular in the Middle East, and condemned fundamentalism in any guise, insisting that "no one can kill in the name of God, no one can accept killing his brother".
In spite of several bouts of ill health in recent months Pope John Paul (75) looked fit. After Mass, he went on a small walkabout to greet several hundred Catholics band Muslims. Posters and banners in French and Arabic welcomed the head of the Catholic Church to a country where "tolerance reigns".
On arrival early yesterday morning, he was greeted by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and other dignitaries.
Mr Ben Ali, who has clamped down on Muslim fundamentalism in Tunisia, said: "Tunisia, a country of moderation, dialogue and tolerance, and a beacon of Islam, is honoured to welcome the Holy Father."
Tunisia, the first part of North Africa to see Christian missionaries in the fourth century has no more than 20,000 Catholics today, compared with some 260,000 when the country gained independence from France in 1956.
Yesterday afternoon, the Pope and Mr Ben Ali met at the presidential residence in Carthage, the birthplace of Saint Augustine, who died in the city in 430. After that the Pope returned to Rome.