His Holiness Pope Tawadros II accepted the invitation of Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, Ambassador of Egypt in Hungary, to attend the dinner banquet held by the Ambassador at his house in honour of His Holiness the Pope.
The meeting was attended, in addition to the delegation accompanying His Holiness, Mr. Chamien Gault, Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary, members of the Egyptian Embassy in Budapest, and a delegation from the Egyptian community in Hungary.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted during the banquet, he stressed that the visit of His Holiness the Pope will remain in the hearts of the Hungarians, stressing that Egypt and Hungary have historical friendship, and he concluded his speech with the phrase Long live Egypt and long live Hungary.
For his part, the Egyptian ambassador expressed his happiness at the visit of His Holiness the Pope, describing it as historic, and referred to his meeting with His Holiness the Pope at the Papal Residence in Cairo before he travelled to Budapest to take up his position as Ambassador of Egypt to Hungary, saluting His Holiness and the accompanying delegation, wishing His Holiness a successful visit.
In his speech, His Holiness thanked the Egyptian ambassador and all the embassy staff who made great efforts in preparing for this visit and their presence to make it a success, and also thanked him for the kind invitation and generous hospitality.

Speech of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II’s at the Egyptian Embassy’s dinner in Budapest

“We are happy to meet his Excellency the Ambassador at the residence tonight, and he worked with us before we came. We are happy that the Egyptians gathered as one family”.
Egypt has a special characteristic in all countries of the world, a rich civilization and a long history. I always feel that Egypt is kept in God’s heart. Egypt has a strong history and association with Hungary, and exchanges on the political and commercial level. His Excellency, the Ambassador is interested in consolidating relations with Hungary. Happy to visit Hungary, especially on the National Day, and the interest of the State of Hungary in its history, civilization and celebrations that give joy to all.
The visit came with an official invitation, but it was an opportunity to visit the Coptic Church in Budapest. There is a Coptic diocese called Central Europe that includes five countries, including Hungary, in which there is His Grace Bishop Giovanni and Fr Youssef Khalil.
The community is several thousand, but love is a great thing here among Egyptians in Hungary.
I would like to thank His Excellency the Ambassador and all the embassy staff for arranging this visit. I also thank all those who worked so hard on this visit.
I feel that one of the gains of the visit is that a friendship has developed between me and those I met.”

Speech of Egypt’s Ambassador to Hungary, Mohamed El-Shennawy, during the Egyptian Embassy’s dinner in honour of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

I would like to welcome His Holiness the Pope and his delegation, the Deputy Prime Minister, and all our guests. The visit of His Holiness is important and historical for three main reasons:
First: Because it is the first for His Holiness Pope Tawadros to visit Hungary since Pope Shenouda III visited Hungary in 2011.
Second: To consolidate the relationship with Hungary, which is witnessing great momentum, and witnessed the visit of His Excellency President El Sisi in 2021, and the visit of the Hungarian Prime Minister to Egypt, and it comes at a time when the world is witnessing wars and conflicts, and His Holiness the Pope spreads peace and love among peoples.
I would like to wish His Holiness the Pope and the entire accompanying delegation a successful visit, and thank the Deputy Prime Minister for the hospitality of Hungary.
I had the honour of meeting His Holiness before I started my position as Ambassador to Hungary.
A large number of the Egyptian community was keen to come here to receive His Holiness the Pope.

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