This morning, H.H. Pope Tawadros II received at the Papal Residence in Cairo a delegation from the churches of South Africa, the Churches for Peace in the Middle East, and the Lutheran Churches of America. They were accompanied by Dr. Reverend Andrea Zaki, Head of the Evangelical denomination in Egypt.

During the meeting, members of the delegation expressed their interest in supporting peace efforts in the Middle East, especially in the Gaza Strip, noting that the Churches for Peace Organization works with church leaders to achieve this goal.

For his part, Pope Tawadros gave the delegation an overview of the Coptic Orthodox Church and its current spread around the world. He highlighted the good relationship of the Coptic Orthodox Church with the Egyptian government, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and all Churches.

His Holiness also expressed his appreciation for the delegation’s efforts to promote peace in the region, stressing the importance of wisdom in leadership and responsibility to achieve sustainable results.

Pope Tawadros stressed that any efforts made for peace will not bear fruit without the wisdom of leaders and officials, calling on the delegation to focus on wisdom as a priority for achieving peace. He also asked for prayers for peace in the Middle East, and what Palestine and Lebanon are currently witnessing, expressing his confidence that God, the King of Peace, will work to achieve stability in the region.

For his part, Dr. Andrea Zaki explained that His Holiness is a model of love and peace, and he was named the “Pope of Love” because he is an influential national figure in Egyptian society, as all Christians consider him their leader.

Pope Tawadros concluded the meeting by saying: “Love never fails. Let us work in love, for God is love.”

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