Today (Monday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II received Dr. Rami Joseph, the Iraqi Minister of Endowments for Christian, Yazidi, and Mandaean religions, along with his accompanying delegation. Present at the meeting were the monk Hegumen Mina Al-Orshalimi, head of the Coptic community in Iraq; Engineer Wameedh Nagy, Director General of the Engineering Department at the Iraqi Ministry of Endowments; Engineer Salyooh Lazar, owner of the company executing the construction of the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Iraq; Counselor Rokan Abdul Khaliq, advisor at the Iraqi Embassy; Mr. Yasser Mousa, Second Secretary at the Iraqi Embassy; Deacon Bishoy Fouad, deacon of the Jerusalem See; and Mr. Reweis Aziz, supervisor of the cathedral construction in Iraq.

The visiting minister delivered a letter from the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr. Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, containing an official invitation for His Holiness to visit Iraq.

During the meeting, Dr. Ramy Joseph noted that Iraq is home to 14 Christian denominations, including the Copts, who contribute to development projects in Iraq. A Coptic church has been built with generous support from the Iraqi government. He praised the significant role played by Hegumen Mina Al-Orshalimi with the Coptic congregation and within the wider Iraqi society.

For his part, Pope Tawadros warmly welcomed his guests and the invitation he received to visit Iraq. He expressed his eagerness to fulfill the invitation soon and to inaugurate the new cathedral. He noted that among the most important civilizations in human history are those that arose in China, Iraq, and Egypt. His Holiness commended the growth, development, and stability that Iraq is currently experiencing after years of unrest.

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