His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, accompanied by his delegation, met today with Mr. Marko Đurić, the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Belgrade. The meeting was attended by Mr. Basel Salah, Egypt’s Ambassador to Serbia, along with several senior ministry officials.
The Serbian Foreign Minister warmly welcomed His Holiness, describing the visit as “a historic occasion that contributes to strengthening relations not only between the two nations, but also between the two churches, and between the state and the Church as a whole.” He added, “You are in your own country; Serbia is not foreign to you.”
Minister Đurić praised the strong ties between Egypt and Serbia, bolstered by a solid relationship between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He stressed, “Our relationship is not only political; it is rooted in love, friendship, and close cooperation across various fields.”
The minister reflected on the challenges Serbia has faced over the past decades, particularly after World War II and during the communist era, which attempted to marginalize the role of the Church. He said, “We lived through difficult years, but today we preserve the teachings of the faith and are witnessing a tangible spiritual revival. People are returning to churches, and attendance at liturgies is growing—thanks to the spiritual leadership of the Serbian Patriarch.”
He added, “We are working to preserve Serbian identity, encourage family values, and increase birth rates, especially as the average age of our population is 43.”
For his part, Pope Tawadros expressed his deep happiness about the visit, saying:
“I am delighted to be here with you. The Serbian President encouraged me to make this visit during our meeting at the Papal Headquarters in Cairo last July.”
He praised Serbia’s efforts in maintaining peace, adding:
“In Egypt, we believe that building peace is extremely important. Despite ongoing conflicts in our region, Egypt’s political leadership is dedicated to achieving peace. We call Egypt the heart of the world due to its geographic location and rich historical legacy.”
He continued: “The Bible says: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Peace requires wisdom, patience, and time to be fully realized.”
Pope Tawadros pointed out that humanity’s detachment from God is the root of many of today’s crises, saying:
“God is the only constant in a world of continual change. Clinging to God is the path to true peace.”
He expressed hope that peace would prevail across the Middle East and Europe, and emphasized the role of churches in reinforcing spiritual identity.
He also warned of the rise in hate speech in the digital age:
“While social media has its benefits, it has also contributed to a decline in human compassion. Religious institutions must work together to confront hate and help humanity lead better lives—whether at the family or societal level.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Đurić expressed his appreciation for the Pope’s words, saying:
“Thank you for your valuable advice. We promise that Serbia will remain a guardian of peace. On behalf of the Ministry, we thank you for your message and ask for your prayers.”
This meeting is part of Pope Tawadros’s ongoing pastoral tour of the Diocese of Central Europe, which began on April 25. Serbia is the third stop on the visit.
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