Open news feed Close news feed
A A

Pope visits Egypt after attack on Coptic Church

Social
pope

Voice of America As the sun came down around the Vatican Embassy in Cairo on Friday, police lined the streets, and soldiers waited in army trucks behind roadblocks. Despite the heavy security presence, there was a sense of relief as many eyes turned to their television screens to watch the day's events unfold. On his first day of his first visit to Egypt, Pope Francis was safe. "This visit will strengthen relations between Christians in Egypt and the Catholic Church," said Rizk Rashad, looking away from the cafe TV screen where the pope and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi were speaking. "Perhaps next our president will visit the Vatican." On the television, Francis delivered a speech warning of the dangers of rigid, narrow-minded belief structures. "For all our need of the Absolute, it is essential that we reject any 'absolutizing' that would justify violence," the pope said. "For violence is the negation of every authentic religious expression." The visit comes amid difficult times for Egyptian Coptic Christians, one of the largest and oldest minority groups in the Middle East. Earlier this month, more than 40 people were killed in three church attacks claimed by Islamic State militants. Earlier Friday, as Francis visited two of Egypt's most famous cathedrals and mosques, security forces appeared noticeably nervous, lining the streets and rapidly inspecting cars in advance of the pontiff's arrival. More on the source website