Today (Monday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II congratulated Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.

His Holiness the Pope visited the headquarters of Al-Azhar this morning, accompanied by a Church delegation.

The Grand Imam and Al-Azhar leadership welcomed His Holiness upon his arrival.

H.H. Pope Tawadros expressed his heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, wishing the Grand Imam and all Egyptian Muslims peace, goodness, and prosperity.

His Holiness said: “We are pleased that fasting periods coincide and that our feasts are close together.” He added, “It is wonderful that all Egyptians are fasting together, living in an atmosphere of prayers and spirituality.”

Pope Tawadros also expressed his hopes for Egypt’s continued stability and for peace and tranquility to prevail in countries suffering from wars and conflicts. He highlighted the dangers of hatred, explaining that when it takes hold of a person, it leads to the evils we witness. He emphasized the important role religious leaders play in addressing this issue.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb thanked H.H. Pope Tawadros and expressed his deep appreciation for the visit, reaffirming the strong bonds of affection and brotherhood among all Egyptians. He welcomed the idea of standing together as religious leaders to combat the spread of hatred and tackle the challenges facing society, stressing that education is the primary tool for addressing the problem of hatred.

The Church delegation accompanying H.H. Pope Tawadros included: H.E. Metropolitan Danial, Metropolitan of Maadi and Secretary of the Holy Synod, and H.G. Bishop Armia, the General Bishop, and H.G. Bishop Eklimandros, General Bishop of the Churches of Almaza, Madinat Al-Amal, and East Nasr City, and Hegumen Fr. Sergious Sergious, General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Cairo, and Monk Fr. Emmanuel Al-Muharraqy, Director of the Pope’s Office, and Hegumen Fr. Moussa Ibrahim, Official Spokesperson of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Dr. Girgis Saleh, Member of the General Secretariat of the Egyptian Family House, and Major General Nabil Riad, Director of Cathedral Security, and Dr. Aida Nassif, Professor at the Clerical College.

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