His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, accompanied by his delegation, visited the Serbian Parliament in Belgrade today, where he met with Ms. Zagorka Aleksic, Chair of the Serbian-Egyptian Parliamentary Friendship Group, along with members of the parliamentary group. Egypt’s Ambassador to Serbia, Mr. Basel Salah, was also present.
This visit is part of the Pope’s pastoral visit of the Diocese of Central Europe, which began on April 25. Serbia is the third stop on this tour.
The Chair of the group expressed the Serbian Parliament’s pride in welcoming Pope Tawadros, describing the visit as a great honor for both the parliament and the Serbian people. She expressed her deep appreciation for the brotherly relationship between the Coptic and Serbian churches, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and love as bridges of cooperation between the two nations. She noted that this visit supports the enhancement of religious and educational cooperation between Egypt and Serbia.
She also remarked, “Religion plays a central role in the daily life of the Serbian people, helping them to face everyday challenges.”
She added, “We are happy about Your Holiness’s meeting with the Serbian Patriarch and hope this visit marks the beginning of greater cooperation between the state and the Church.”
Several members of the parliamentary group also delivered welcoming remarks. The Vice Chair described the visit as a “historic opportunity,” stressing the world’s current need for love and unity amid the challenges of the digital age. She emphasized that the Pope’s visit “writes a new chapter in the history of relations between our two peoples.”
Other MPs highlighted the history of the Serbian Parliament and the importance of both parliamentary and religious ties between Egypt and Serbia. They praised the role of religion in fostering inner peace and invited Pope Tawadros to visit Serbian monasteries to better understand the country’s spiritual heritage.
In his speech, Pope Tawadros II expressed his joy at visiting the Serbian Parliament, saying:
“This is my first time in Serbia. I have longed to visit this beautiful country, its ancient Church, and Saint Sava.”
He referred to his meeting two days earlier with the Serbian Patriarch and his visit to the Church of Saint Sava, saying: “During the prayers there, I felt as if I were in heaven. In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, ‘on earth as it is in heaven,’” expressing his delight at the Serbian people’s love for saints—a trait they share with the Copts, noting even that some Muslim brothers in Egypt have a special love for the Virgin Mary.
His Holiness highlighted the historic role of the Coptic Orthodox Church as the cradle of Christian monasticism, referencing the Monastery of Saint Anthony, the first monastery in history.
He added that Egypt, “the Mother of the World,” enjoys a unique geographic location at the heart of Asia, Africa, and Europe. He noted the positive relations between the Egyptian and Serbian presidents, encouraging further cooperation and calling for the building of bridges of love between peoples.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chair of the group thanked His Holiness and emphasized the vital role of the Coptic Church in all societies. Commemorative gifts were exchanged in an atmosphere full of warmth and affection, reflecting the depth of friendship between the Egyptian and Serbian peoples.
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