His Holiness Pope Tawadros II arrived this evening at Cairo International Airport following the conclusion of a 19-day pastoral tour that included Turkey, Austria, Italy, and Croatia.
Earlier today, His Holiness and the accompanying delegation departed from the Croatian capital, Zagreb, where they were seen off at the airport by Egyptian Ambassador Rania El Banna and members of the Egyptian Embassy. During his four-day visit to Croatia, His Holiness met with the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and the Grand Mufti of Croatia. He also met with the Archbishop of Zagreb and several church leaders, and attended a dinner reception hosted by the Egyptian Ambassador in his honor.
On the pastoral level, His Holiness met with members of the Coptic Orthodox Church community in Croatia, numbering around 500 people, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy with them last Sunday morning. During the visit, consultations were also held with Croatian officials regarding the establishment of a Coptic church in Croatia. Croatian media outlets likewise conducted several televised, radio, and print interviews with His Holiness on the sidelines of the visit.
The tour included first-ever visits by Pope Tawadros II to both Turkey and Croatia. Among the most significant activities in Turkey was his meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, in addition to several meetings with church leaders in Istanbul and a gathering with members of the Coptic community at St. Mark Coptic Church in Istanbul.
In Austria, His Holiness inaugurated the European youth gathering attended by more than 300 young men and women from various dioceses across Europe. He also attended the annual festival of hymn and praise teams representing all churches of the Austrian Diocese. Furthermore, he participated in the celebration marking the tenth anniversary of the reception of the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Victorious and Archangel Michael in Vienna, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and met with the congregation. He also met the monastic community of the Monastery of St. Anthony in Obersiebenbrunn. Officially, His Holiness visited the Egyptian Ambassador in Vienna, where a reception was held in his honor.
The activities in Italy were centered in Venice, home to the official headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Europe. There, the Conference of the Dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe, America, and Australia was held. His Holiness also prayed the Vespers and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Martyrdom of St. Mark the Apostle at the Coptic cathedral bearing his name, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy the following day at the historic St. Mark’s Basilica, which houses the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist, Apostle of the See of Alexandria. He also met the Archbishop of Venice and gathered with the clergy of the Diocese of Milan and their wives.
Accompanying His Holiness during the visit to Turkey were Their Graces Bishop Daniel, Metropolitan of Maadi; Bishop Thomas, Metropolitan of El-Qussia and Mir; Bishop Angaelos, Bishop of London; Fr. Emmanuel Al-Muharraqy, monk-priest and Director of the Papal Office; and Fr. Mark Asaad, priest of the Coptic Church in Turkey.
During the visit to Croatia, His Holiness was accompanied by Their Graces Bishop Abraham, General Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles; Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of Central Europe; Fr. Emmanuel Al-Muharraqy, Director of the Papal Office; and Fr. Tadros Riad, who serves the Coptic Orthodox faithful in Croatia.
