Today (Sunday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II received Mrs Celinda Sosa Lunda, the Foreign Minister of Bolivia, at the Papal Residence in Cairo. Accompanying her were Ms. Paola Inclán Cepedes, the minister’s special advisor, Mr. Edwin Rivero, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Bolivian Embassy, and Ambassador Ashraf Mounir, Assistant Egyptian Foreign Minister for Latin American Affairs.
During the meeting, the minister conveyed the greetings of the Bolivian people to His Holiness the Pope and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to visit St. Mark’s Cathedral and receive the blessings of this sacred place. She also mentioned that her constant prayer is for the Lord to guide her in her journey.
The minister expressed her happiness with the activities of the Coptic Church in Bolivia, noting that the Bolivian people began attending prayers and visiting churches as early as the 8th century with the beginning of missionary movements. She particularly praised the services provided by the Church in Bolivia, including schools, hospitals, orphanages, and various social activities. She emphasized that the Bolivian government highly appreciates these efforts aimed at serving the poor in Bolivia.
The minister extended an official invitation to His Holiness to visit Bolivia and witness firsthand the activities of the Coptic Church there. She emphasized coordination with the Egyptian ambassador in Bolivia to prepare for this significant visit. She also highlighted the challenges her country faces, including shortages in hospitals, specialized doctors, medical equipment, and modern technology.
For his part, Pope Tawadros welcomed the esteemed minister and her accompanying delegation, expressing his happiness with the good relations between Egypt and Bolivia. He provided an overview of the Coptic Church and its spiritual and social role both within Egypt and abroad. His Holiness commended the successful service of H.G. Bishop Youssef in Bolivia, which will reach 25 years next year. He reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to continue meeting the medical needs of the Bolivian people.
Pope Tawadros emphasized the Coptic Church’s belief in its dual role, both spiritual and social, striving to establish schools and medical centers to serve all citizens. He also highlighted the importance of serving children and youth, explaining that the Church is dedicated to nurturing new generations who have an active role in society.
His Holiness concluded his remarks by noting the good relationships the Church shares with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Egyptian government, Foreign Minister Mr Badr Abdel Aty, Al-Azhar, and all other Churches both within and outside Egypt. Pope Tawadros invited his guests to visit the Coptic monasteries, pointing out that St. Anthony the Great, the first monk in the world, established monasticism in the 3rd century, and that the first monastery in the world was built in Egypt.
For her part, the esteemed minister concluded the meeting by emphasizing that the greatest service one can provide is serving the poor, in accordance with the teachings of the Lord Christ. She praised Egypt’s significant contributions to the world, highlighting the symbolism of the Nile River, the Red Sea, and Mount Sinai. She also reiterated her gratitude to the Coptic Church for its contributions to Bolivia and its people, affirming that peace is the best solution to crises, as opposed to wars, which lead to poverty and famine.
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