His Holiness Pope Tawadros II visited the Church of St. Mark the Apostle in Istanbul, Turkey, where he met with the members of the congregation, inquired about their wellbeing, and spoke with them in a fatherly address about faithfulness in Holy Scripture and in the spiritual life.

Also attending the gathering, alongside the delegation accompanying His Holiness, were representatives of the Christian denominations in Istanbul.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II began a new overseas pastoral visit yesterday, Saturday, covering four countries. He commenced the tour in Turkey, where he met His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople, in the first official meeting between the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of Constantinople. Earlier today, he attended the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, after which official addresses were exchanged between the two primates. He also met with members of the Synodal Committee for Dialogue among Christians and Religions, and a luncheon was held in his honor at the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.