SW News: Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II said his Church and the Church of Rome are united by the love of Jesus and all the Apostolic Fathers and saints who surround and guide believers. He made this remark during the General Audience of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday, May 10. It is for the first time that a head of the Coptic Church is addressing believers during the General Audience.

The Coptic patriarch said that his Church too has ancient roots and it originated in Egypt, the land where monasticism was first born. Tawadros II profusely thanked the Holy Father for his visit to Egypt in 2017. He also recalled his previous visit to the Holy See a decade ago. “I look at this place,” he said, “and I go back in my memory to ten years ago, on this same date, and I remember your dear affection in welcoming me, together with the delegation of the Coptic Church.”

He went on to add that during his first visit to the Vatican, he suggested to Pope Francis that May 10 be observed as the Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship every year. Since that year, this day has been commemorated in a special way and the pope makes it a point to speak with the patriarch on the phone without fail.

His address was followed by the speech of the Holy Father who said that it was with great happiness that he was greeting His Holiness Tawadros II, the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark. “Dear friend and brother Tawadros, I thank you for accepting my invitation on this double anniversary, and I pray that the light of the Holy Spirit might illuminate your visit to Rome,” said Pope Francis.

“I thank you from the heart, for your commitment to the growing friendship between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church," added the pontiff.