Today (Monday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II participated in the ‘Media and Information Literacy and Global Understanding: Peace for All’ Conference, organized by the League of Arab States, in cooperation with the UNESCO Organization for Culture and Science.

The opening session of the conference witnessed the announcement of H.H. Pope Tawadros II receiving an honorary doctorate from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport which is affiliated with the League of Arab States.

Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit (Secretary-General of the League of Arab States), and Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar (President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport) welcome Pope Tawadros upon his arrival to the headquarters of the League of Arab States. His Holiness was received in the headquarters’ Emirates Hall before the opening session of the conference commenced.

Professor Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar announced that H.H. Pope Tawadros II had been granted an honorary doctorate degree from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. The President of the Academy elaborated on the reasons for this: “After reviewing the recommendation of the Academy’s Executive Council for the forty-seventh regular session held on Saturday the 20th of April 2024 at the Academy’s headquarters in New Alamein, and in implementation of the Academy’s second Education Council of 2024, the President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport decided to grant His Eminence the Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, (Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque), and H.H. Pope Tawadros II (Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Mark) an honorary doctorate degree for his efforts in the service of humanity and upholding the values ​​of tolerance.”

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and the President of the Academy presented the honorary doctorate to His Holiness amid the applause of the attendees.

In his speech, Pope Tawadros emphasized his happiness at being at the Arab League, expressing his gratitude for receiving an honorary doctorate from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. He stressed the importance of education for man’s life and societies, noting that university education contributes to creating a new formulation of the scientific and cognitive mind on the basis of scientific methodology.
He highlighted that life is linked to the value of love, as a person will not live without love, and love is the love of goodness and the love of others. Love is what connects a person to God and to others, and the world cannot be imagined without love.

Pope Tawadros pointed out that at the beginning of every day, we pray, seeking God’s help: “Let Your face shine upon us and let the light of Your divine knowledge enlighten us. Grant us, O our Master, to be sons of light and sons of day, to pass this day in chastity, righteousness, and good conduct.”

His Holiness highlighted that the media has become an essential part of society, and a link between humans and the world. It has removed barriers between individuals and societies. Pope Tawadros stressed everyone’s responsibility to make the media an effective means of serving mankind, education, and advancing humanity.

Regarding love for others, Pope Tawadros explained that those who contribute to scientific development, those who provide humanitarian initiatives that preserve the environment, and those who intervene to stop wars demonstrate the most esteemed forms of love for others.

During the conference, H.H. Pope Tawadros was accompanied by His Eminence Anba Daniel (Metropolitan of Maadi and Secretary of the Holy Synod), H.G. Anba Yolyous (General Bishop of Old Cairo and the Bishopric of Services), H.G. Anba Bavly (General Bishop of the Montazah Sector), the monk Fr. Kyrillos Anba Bishoy (Director of H.H. the Pope’s Office), the hegumen Fr. Mousa Ibrahim, (spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church), Mrs. Barbara Soliman (Director of the Pontifical Office for Projects and Relations), the deacon Joseph Reda (Pope Tawadros’ deacon), and Mrs. Odette Riad from the Media Office of His Holiness.

The honorary doctorate that His Holiness was granted today is the third honorary doctorate he has received. Pope Tawadros obtained an honorary doctorate in 2015 from Beni Suef University for his role in “promoting social peace in Egypt.” His Holiness also obtained the same degree from Pazman Peter University; Hungary in August 2023 for his contribution and interest in Christian education development and community development.

This page is also available in: العربية