His Holiness Pope Tawadros II received Mr. Arkadiusz Kosiński, Mayor of Pruszków, along with his accompanying delegation, at the Church of Saints John the Baptist and Philopater Mercurius (Abu Sefein) in Warsaw, Poland. This meeting took place as part of His Holiness’ pastoral visit to Poland during his tour of the Diocese of Central Europe.

At the beginning of the meeting, His Holiness expressed his deep appreciation for the support provided by local authorities to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Poland. He emphasized that the Church is keen to serve its children wherever they are, adding, “Today, we prayed with our people here and felt their deep love and strong sense of belonging to their mother Church.”

His Holiness gave a brief overview of the history of the Coptic Church, which began with the evangelism of Saint Mark the Apostle in Alexandria, and highlighted the concept of monasticism founded by Saint Anthony the Great, the father of monks worldwide. He also shed light on the journey of the Holy Family into Egypt, which brought great blessings and gave Egypt a unique spiritual status.
His Holiness explained that the Coptic Church today serves its members across all continents, with large communities in the United States, France, and Australia. He pointed out that service in Poland requires considerable effort due to the scattered presence of Copts in multiple cities and towns. Nevertheless, the Church continues its ministry regularly, encouraging its members to remain firmly connected to their Church as their spiritual fortress wherever they are.

Speaking about the global situation, His Holiness remarked: “The world today is troubled and losing much love and peace, but we thank God that Egypt, despite regional challenges, enjoys peace and stability. We always pray for the peace of the whole world.”

His Holiness spoke warmly about his strong relationship with the late Pope Francis, reviewing the history of their connection. He added: “I see that he was a pivotal figure in the history of the Church and humanity. His departure leaves a significant void, but now he has become a friend in heaven, praying for the Church and the world.”
His Holiness recalled their key meetings, particularly his last visit to the Vatican in May 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of relations between the two Churches, during which he presented a relic of the Coptic martyrs of Libya who were martyred in 2015. Pope Francis was deeply moved and decided to dedicate a special altar in the Vatican in their name.

For his part, Mr. Kosiński expressed his deep admiration for the Coptic Orthodox Church, especially Coptic art. He inquired about the details of the iconostasis inside the church, praising the beauty and precision of the woodwork. He expressed his desire to learn more about the rich Coptic culture and conveyed his gratitude and joy at meeting His Holiness, wishing that the visit could have lasted longer to provide a greater opportunity to learn about the Coptic Church and community in Poland. He also expressed his readiness to support any future needs or facilitate the Church’s activities.

At the end of the meeting, His Holiness presented Mr. Kosiński with a symbolic commemorative gift bearing an image of the Holy Family, inviting him to visit Egypt to explore its ancient civilization and blessed monasteries. In return, the Mayor of Pruszków presented His Holiness with a commemorative gift, expressing his appreciation and happiness for this blessed visit.

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