His Holiness Pope Tawadros II received Mr. Alexandru, Owner of the Romanian Publishing House ”Proema”, along with a senior executive from the company, at His Holiness’s residence in Romania. The meeting was attended by H.G. Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of Central Europe, and Fr. Mina Takla, priest of St. Mina Church in Bucharest.

His Holiness warmly welcomed the guests, recalling a previous meeting with Proema in Cairo, during which the publishing house had translated two of His Holiness’s books: “This Is My Faith” and “The History of the Church.” Mr. Alexandru expressed gratitude for His Holiness’s approval to translate and publish these works, noting that copies had been distributed to theological schools and Christian education centers across Romania.

Pope Tawadros commended Proema for its dedication to publishing books that introduce the Coptic Orthodox Church’s rich history, spirituality, and deep-rooted faith. He emphasized that such translations build spiritual and cultural bridges between the Coptic Church and the Romanian people, adding:
“Continuing this work enhances life, knowledge, and communication among nations.”

His Holiness also stressed the significance of publishing, describing it as a noble endeavor:
“Culture and reading are essential pillars in a person’s life. We hope to see more Romanian literature translated into Arabic—whether about the Church or about your beloved country.”

Mr. Alexandru shared that he has translated over 50 books to date, including titles from both the Coptic and Syriac Churches. He expressed hope to work on publications about the Holy Family’s journey through Egypt, noting the growing recognition of the Coptic Church—particularly following the martyrdom of the 21 Copts in Libya, which drew global attention to the Church’s witness in modern times.

At the end of the meeting, the delegation expressed their desire to visit Egypt. His Holiness welcomed the idea and presented them with two English-language publications: one historical, ecclesiastical, and touristic book about the Holy Family’s journey in Egypt, and a children’s version of the same story.

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