Ambassador Moayad El-Dolai, Egypt’s Ambassador to Romania, hosted a reception in honor of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, attended by several ambassadors from Arab and foreign countries accredited to Bucharest, as well as representatives of churches and international organizations.

In his welcoming remarks, the Egyptian ambassador said:
“We are all honored by your presence among us. Welcome to your home—Egypt’s home. We wish your visit every success and blessing.”

At the beginning of his speech, His Holiness Pope Tawadros said:
“This is my first visit to beautiful Romania, and the first time the Egyptian heart meets this friendly country, rich in history and culture. Egypt, the great nation in the East, has always been a home for all Arabs.”

He added:
“Egypt taught the world the art of columns. The obelisk rose as a symbol of grandeur, topped with the golden triangle representing the illuminating eye of God with the sun, signaling the start of the workday. When Christianity entered Egypt, the obelisk became a lighthouse symbolizing uprightness. Later, Islam added the minaret as a distinct architectural art form. Thus, the column has always represented humanity’s path from earth to heaven—a path that demands integrity.”

His Holiness continued:
“We pray with the psalmist, saying: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.’”

He also quoted the great Egyptian thinker Dr. Gamal Hamdan, who described Egypt as “a marvel of nature, a genius of history, and the mother of geography,” highlighting Egypt’s geographic and civilizational genius through the ages.

His Holiness emphasized that Egypt is a deeply-rooted nation shaped by successive civilizations—from the Pharaonic to the Coptic, then the Islamic and Arab civilizations, followed by African, Mediterranean, and Greco-Roman influences—forming a rich melting pot of unity and diversity.

He spoke of the Nile River as a unifying axis for Egyptians across generations:
“The Nile has always been, and remains, the secret of Egyptian unity. It brought together land and people and planted in our hearts a love for peaceful life and national unity—not as a policy or decision, but as a deeply rooted part of our identity.”

He concluded:
“We pray for peace in the world, for our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Sudan, and for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Russia, in India and Pakistan. We ask God to pour His peace upon the earth and bless all nations and peoples with lasting love and peace.”

The reception concluded in a warm patriotic atmosphere filled with love and appreciation, as attendees expressed their joy in meeting His Holiness and wished him every success in his visit to Romania.

This event comes as part of His Holiness’s pastoral visit to the Diocese of Central Europe, which began with his arrival in Poland last Friday. He left Poland yesterday and arrived in Romania, where he is spending several days in pastoral and official activities as part of his 2025 pastoral visit schedule.

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