His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the accompanying delegation met today with Dr. Vladimir Roganović, Director General of the Department for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities in the Republic of Serbia. The meeting took place as part of His Holiness’s pastoral visit to Serbia, within his current tour of the Diocese of Central Europe, which began on April 25. Serbia is the third stop on this tour.
Dr. Roganović welcomed His Holiness on behalf of the Serbian government, saying:
“It is a great honor for us to welcome you to our country. This visit confirms the strength of the relationship between us. Official visits and meetings are important, but your lecture and words this evening will serve as a cultural and spiritual bridge between the two countries.”
He added that the visit would contribute to strengthening the ties between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church, explaining the role of his department:
“We are responsible for maintaining cooperation with churches and religious communities in the country, and your visit today inspires us to define new horizons for future collaboration.”
In his remarks, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II spoke about the beginnings of Coptic migration sixty years ago, when the Church was keen to reach out and serve its children abroad, responding to the needs of Coptic communities and their families, emphasizing that the Church maintains continuous communication with its people abroad.
He added:
“In every country I visit, I make sure to check on our church members and follow up on their needs, because our primary goal is for every soul to draw closer to God, and for every person to live faithfully in both their personal and professional life.”
He continued:
“I was pleased to meet with the Copts here in Serbia in a public gathering, where I stressed the importance of faithfulness in work, holding on to values, and being a role model through good behavior.”
Dr. Roganović expressed his happiness in witnessing the Pope’s meeting with the Coptic community, saying:
“I watched your meeting with the community, and I am ready and willing to support any ideas or initiatives that serve the Coptic Church members here, especially during these challenging times that the world is facing.”
His Holiness concluded by expressing his thanks and praising the service of His Grace Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of the Diocese of Central Europe, who oversees the Coptic faithful in Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and the Czech Republic, with regular visits and continuous pastoral care.
The Director General expressed his deep appreciation for the Coptic Church’s commitment to caring for its people worldwide, saying:
“I was very pleased to see how much the Coptic Church cares for its members, even if there is only one person living in a country.”
The meeting reflected a spirit of deep love and affirmed the ongoing communication and enhanced cooperation between the Coptic Orthodox Church and religious institutions in Serbia.
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