The activities of the Sixth International Conference of the World Council of Churches began this morning at the LOGOS Center in the Papal Residence at the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Wadi El-Natroun, with 500 participants representing 100 countries.

The opening session witnessed an address by H.H. Pope Tawadros II, in which he welcomed the participants in the conference being held on the land of Egypt under the hospitality of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Speeches were also delivered by leaders of the Council, as well as presidents and representatives of the member Churches. Dr. Jacqueline Azer, Governor of Beheira, also attended the opening session.

In his address, His Holiness said: “I welcome you all to Egypt, and to the LOGOS Conference Center, in this sacred place at the Monastery of the great Saint Bishoy, in the holy wilderness of Scetis in Wadi El-Natroun, which has been a beacon and inspiration for monastic life, and which has inspired the world since the fourth century.”

His Holiness pointed out that the heresy of Arius threatened the unity of the Christian faith, warning of the danger of individual interpretation and teaching, without returning to the roots represented in the Holy Bible and the teachings of the saintly Fathers.

He indicated that the Council of Nicaea had a profound effect in solidifying the theological foundations of the Christian creed, affirming the unity of the divine essence between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and putting an end to the heresies that diminished the divinity of Christ. It established a new model for ecumenical dialogue, gathering bishops from all over the world, and setting the principle that the truth of faith is determined through ecumenical councils, not individual opinions.

Pope Tawadros affirmed that the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea is considered one of the most pivotal events in the history of Christian thought and ecclesiastical theology, marking a turning point in defining the features of the true faith and formulating the universal creed that the Church has inherited through the centuries.

His Holiness noted that the conference of the World Council of Churches provides an opportunity to reflect on the faithfulness of the Church in preserving the Nicene faith and confirming its mission in a world characterized by intellectual and cultural pluralism.

Regarding the call to unity among Christian Churches, Pope Tawadros emphasized that the goal of Christian unity is a noble one. Responding to the question that forms the title of the conference — “Where are we now with the Council of Nicaea and visible unity?” — he said: “We believe that true unity is unity in faith, and its reality is that we be in full communion in the holy sacraments: “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).
He noted that the path toward unity is not easy, yet unity cannot be reached except through theological dialogues.

Speaking of the Coptic Orthodox Church, he said: “I invite you, in this blessed time and during your stay among us, to become acquainted with our Coptic Orthodox Church, this ancient Church that carries its true faith and deep patristic heritage, a faith that has been nourished by the blood of martyrs across generations, and preserved faithfully through the ages as a sacred deposit handed down to us by the early Fathers.”

Regarding their coming to Egypt, His Holiness stated: “I invite you to become acquainted with our country Egypt, the land of the Evangelist Saint Mark, which embraced the Christian faith since the dawn of history, and witnessed the birth of monasticism and the flourishing of theology and spirituality. Egypt, with its ancient history and civilization spanning thousands of years, continues to offer the world a living testimony of steadfast faith and universal love. It is our pride and joy to welcome you to our Coptic Church and our homeland Egypt, which is honored today to host this significant event in the journey of the World Council of Churches.”

Pope Tawadros concluded: “This gathering of ours is a shining sign that Egypt, together with the Middle East and Africa, continues to form a living bridge among the Churches, and a place that bears a message of hope and unity before the eyes of the entire Christian world.”

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