His Holiness Pope Tawadros II congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Ishaq, Coptic Catholic Patriarch in Egypt, on the glorious Christmas, which several Christian churches celebrate today.

His Holiness visited this morning the headquarter of the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate in Kobry al-Qubba, accompanied by a church delegation, and was received by His Beatitude the Patriarch, the Catholic Church bishops, and some priests.

His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Ishaq expressed his welcome and happiness at the visit of His Holiness Pope Tawadros and his congratulations, and said: “It is a joy we longed for, as the congratulatory meetings were absent in the last period due to the new Coronavirus.” He added: “The essence of the holiday is joy, joy in our Savior who came to us and with his coming the heavens were united with the earth.” And the joy increases with the presence of His Holiness, so welcome to our midst.” He concluded by thanking His Holiness the Pope and the accompanying delegation for the visit and congratulations.

For his part, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II stressed in his speech his happiness with this meeting, pointing out that the birth of Christ calls us to pay attention to childhood because children are half of the present and all of the future, so civilized societies care about childhood. He called for attention to child service, especially children who grow up in poor societies. With this interest, the homeland and the church are built.

And as His Holiness pointed out, Christmas also calls us to pay attention to adding strangers and showing mercy, especially in this age. His Holiness hinted that Christmas encourages us to a life of praise, because with the birth of Christ the angels praised “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14 “that is to say, the glorified man, the joyful human being).

The delegation accompanying His Holiness consisted of H.E. Metropolitan Morcos, Metropolitan of Shubra El-Kheima, H.G. Bishop Daniel, Bishop of Maadi and the Holy Synod Secretary, H.G. Bishop Ermia, General Bishop, Fr. Sergius Sergius, Patriarchal Vicar in Cairo, Monk Fr. Kirolos St. Bishoy, director of the office of His Holiness, and Fr. Mousa Ibrahim, the official spokesman for the Church, Mr. Gerges Saleh, Honorary Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches, and Deacon Joseph Reda from the Secretary of His Holiness the Pope.

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