HH Pope Tawadros II received the Italian pilgrim group, together with Bishop Fumagalli, Anba Barnaba, and Mr Youssef at St Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassiya, Cairo.
Pope Tawadros spoke about the Coptic Orthodox Church and its long history that went back to St Mark in the first AD century. He also spoke of it as the cradle of monasticism. “St Antonius the Great, the first monk, was Egyptian. The monastery he established on a mountain in Egypt’s Eastern Desert close to the Red Sea still thrives. Not far from it lies another monastery, that of St Paul the first Christian hermit.”
The Pope also talked about the monastery of Anba Bishoi in Wadi al-Natroun in the Western Desert, where he took orders had spent several years as a monk. Today, it is home to 200 monks. He also spoke of the many convents in Egypt.
“Because the monasteries are mainly concerned with prayer,” Pope Tawadros said, “so many prayers are raised for the Lord to protect Egypt against all evil. And because the Holy Family took refuge in Egypt so many centuries ago, Egypt is truly blessed.”
“Today, we are happy to welcome you in Egypt,” he said.
Pope Tawadros recalled the visit of Pope Francis to Egypt in April 2017. “It was a great blessing,” he said, “and marked strong bonds between us. We have pledged to pray together every night for each other.” The Coptic Pope had already visited Pope Francis in Rome in May 2013, and said he would be meeting him again Pope Francis in a few weeks.
Bishop Fumagalli thanked the Pope for his warm hearted reception, also State and Church officials for their generous care. He he had enjoyed the feeling of peace and safety ever since they set foot in Egypt.
