During the Visit — Serbian Prime Minister: “This is a historic visit, as you are the Pope of the oldest and largest Church in the East.” … H.H. Pope Tawadros: “Our mutual visits strengthen love, build bridges, and steer us away from hatred.”

This morning, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was received by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Đuro Macut, at the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital, Belgrade. The meeting took place during the Pope’s visit to Serbia as part of his current pastoral tour of the Diocese of Central Europe, which began on April 25. Serbia marks the third stop in His Holiness’s tour of the diocese.

At the start of the meeting, the Serbian Prime Minister warmly welcomed His Holiness and the accompanying delegation, expressing his appreciation for what he described as “an important step toward strengthening relations between the Egyptian and Serbian peoples.” He said: “This is a historic visit, as you are the Pope of the oldest and largest Church in the East. We welcome you for the first time in Serbia. Our relations stretch across history, and your visit today opens new horizons for cooperation—not only in the religious sphere but across broader areas.”

He continued: “In Serbia, as in Egypt, we care deeply about promoting interfaith coexistence. We highly value your efforts in this regard, which align with the vision of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who fostered this spirit of civilizational dialogue during his visit to Serbia. The importance of dialogue and the exchange of visits between the two presidents is evident.”

For his part, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II expressed his happiness with the meeting, saying: “I have read a lot about Serbia and its Orthodox Church, and today I see it with my own eyes and feel a strong connection between our two peoples. We thank God for the solid ties between Egypt and Serbia, which are clearly reflected in the mutual visits of the presidents and officials from both sides.”

His Holiness continued: “In Egypt, we live in genuine love between Muslims and Christians. We take pride in the fact that our country welcomed the Holy Family and still embodies a spirit of faith that has contributed to the building of great civilizations.”

The Pope also expressed gratitude to the Serbian Orthodox Church for providing a place for Coptic Egyptians to pray, considering it a sincere expression of Christian love that unites peoples.

At the end of the meeting, the Serbian Prime Minister announced that his first official visit abroad would be to Egypt, highlighting the depth of bilateral relations. He also praised the wisdom of the Serbian Patriarch and his efforts in promoting dialogue among Orthodox churches.

Pope Tawadros concluded by saying: “The world needs integration between the East, which represents the spirit and heart, and the West, which represents the mind and science. The East is a great temple; the West is a great laboratory. Through their integration, humanity can live in its full essence. Our mutual visits strengthen love, build bridges, and distance us from hatred.”

The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts between the Prime Minister and His Holiness.

This page is also available in: العربية