A short while ago, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II arrived at Rome’s International Airport – Fiumicino. On arrival, His Holiness was greeted by Ambassador Mahmoud Talaat, Ambassador of Egypt to the Vatican, Ambassador Bassam Rady, Ambassador of Egypt to Italy, Monsignor Brian Farrell, secretary to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Monsignor Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, former personal secretary to His Holiness Pope Francis.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros is now on his way to the Vatican City in preparation for the meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome and the Pope of the Catholic Church. This will be the fourth meeting between the two Popes. The first meeting was in May 2013 in the Vatican City, at which, “The day of brotherly love declaration” was made by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. The second was in April 2017 during the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Egypt, and the third meeting took place in July 2018 during the meeting in Bari, Italy, to pray together for peace in the Middle East.
During this visit, and in the General Audience that the Pope of the Vatican holds weekly in St Peter’s Square, the two Popes will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the resumption of relations between the Coptic Church and the Catholic Church following the joint statement signed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI and His Holiness Pope Shenouda III in 1973 in the Vatican City, which in summary says, By one Faith in the One God, the Trinity and in the Divinity of the Incarnate Only-Begotten Son of God. Perfect God according to the Divinity and perfect Man according to the Humanity. We confess that the divine life is granted to us and nourished through the seven sacraments of the Church. We also jointly venerate the Mother of God.”
His Holiness is accompanied by a church delegation that includes their Eminences Metropolitan Paphnutius, Metropolitan of Samalut; Metropolitan Daniel, Metropolitan of Maadi and Secretary of the Holy Synod; Bishop Barnabas, Bishop of Rome and Turin; Bishop Angelos, Bishop of London; Bishop Youlius, General Bishop of Old Cairo and the Bishopric of Services; Bishop Kyrollos, General Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles; and Bishop Antonio, Bishop of Milan; the Monk Rev. Fr. Kyrillos Anba Bishoy, Director of His Holiness’ Office; and Michael Victor, His Holiness’ Press Attache.
