Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, has this morning departed Cairo International Airport, headed for Austrian capital Vienna on a three day visit, to join in the Oriental Churches Assembly with the Austrian President Heinz Fischer on the fiftieth anniversary of the Pro Orienta organization being founded. It’s specialized in cooperation and dialogue between Austrian Catholic Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Coptic, Syriac [Syrian] and Armenian.
Accompanying His Holiness at the airport was His Grace Bishop Ermia, General Bishop and President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, Father Angelos Isaac and Dr. Samuel Matthias, Scout Leader in the Cathedral.
The assembly is to be attended by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Austria, and leaders of the Oriental Churches. They will discuss the role of the Pro Orienta group in supporting proximity between Christian denominations and how to endorse their charitable and pastoral efforts, especially in the realm of aiding those displaced from their homes and refugees in light of the escalation of events in Syria and Iraq.
Picture Album of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II in the VIP lounge prior to travelling to Austria