Renovated Catholic church officially reopens in Algeria

(December 14, 2010) A Catholic church that has been a landmark in Algeria's capital for over a century officially re-opened on Monday after restoration work, providing a symbol of religious tolerance in the mainly Muslim country. Algeria is emerging from a nearly two-decade-long Islamist insurgency, but the Catholic community has maintained a presence, even though several Christian clergymen have been among hundreds of thousands killed in the violence. The Notre Dame d'Afrique church was built by French settlers in the late nineteenth century and since 2006 has been undergoing a 5-million-euro restoration paid for by Algiers city government, the European Union and donors in Algeria and France. "Religious freedom in Algeria is a reality," Religious Affairs Minister Bouabdellah Ghlamallah told reporters after a ceremony to mark the completion of repair work. "Everybody has the right to practice their religion provided that the law is fully respected," he said.
The church stands on a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and its sandstone dome can be seen from many parts of the Algerian capital. An inscription running around the inside of the dome reads: "Our Lady of Africa, pray for us, and for the Muslims."