H.H. Pope Tawadros II arrived – encompassed by God’s grace – to his homeland this evening, returning from Italy after the end of his pastoral visit to Milan and Venice, which lasted eight days.

His Holiness left Malpensa International Airport, in Milan, at 6:15 a.m. (Italian time). He was seen off by Ambassador Manal Abdel Dayem (Consul General in Milan), Mr. Sabri Shokry (Public Relations Representative at the Consulate), His Grace Anba Antonio (Bishop of Milan), and His Grace Anba Loka (Bishop of the French sector of Switzerland and Southern France), a number of priests from Milan and Sweden, and monks of the Monastery of Saint Abba Shenouda the Archimandrite in Milan.

During the visit, His Holiness consecrated the Church of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph of Arimathea in Milan. He also consecrated the Cathedral of Saint Mark the Apostle in Venice, which he inaugurated as the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Europe, and held there, over the course of two days, a seminar for the bishops of Europe.

During the visit, His Holiness also met with the priests of the Diocese of Milan, the monks of the Monastery of Saint Abba Shenouda the Archimandrite in Milan, and the congregation, servants and youth of Milan.

His Holiness received the relics of Saint Anianus, the Second Patriarch of Alexandria, during his meeting with the Patriarch of Venice, Francesco Moraglia. He also received in Milan the relics of Saints Ambrose, Augustine, and Boktor.

His Holiness was accompanied during the visit by a delegation consisting of His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel, Metropolitan of Maadi and Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop Gabriel, Bishop of Beni Suef, Bishop Yolyos, General Bishop of Old Cairo and the Bishopric of Services, and the Monk Father Kyrillos St. Bishoy, Head of the Papal Office

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