Pope Francis comes to Egypt as “messenger of peace”

CAIRO - 25 April 2017: Pope Francis opened a video message ahead of his visit to Egypt later this week with a traditional Arabic greeting: “Dear people of Egypt,” he said in Italian, “As-salamu alaykum.”


In the video, posted Tuesday by the Vatican, Pope Francis said he is coming to Cairo as a friend and a “messenger of peace.”


Francis said he hopes his visit to Egypt will "offer a valid contribution to interreligious dialogue with the Islamic world and to ecumenical dialogue with the venerated and beloved Coptic Orthodox Church."


Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, will lead a holy mass in the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo on Friday. He is scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Friday and return Saturday.


Francis has condemned the deadly attacks at two Coptic churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday, and offered his condolences to Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, and to the Egyptian people. At least 45 people were killed in bombings in Tanta and Alexandria. Affiliates of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Here is the full speech by Pope Francis:

Dear People of Egypt,

As-salamu alaykum!

Peace be with you!

With a heart full of joy and gratitude I will soon visit your beloved country, the cradle of civilization, the gift of the Nile, the land of sun and hospitality, the land where Patriarchs and Prophets lived, and where God, Benevolent and Merciful, the Almighty and One God, made his voice heard.


I am truly happy to be coming as a friend, as a messenger of peace, and a pilgrim to the country that, over two thousand years ago, gave refuge and hospitality to the Holy Family as they fled the threats of King Herod (cf. Mt 2:10-16). I am honoured to visit the land visited by the Holy Family!


I greet all of you warmly and I thank you for your invitation to visit Egypt, which you call ‘Umm il Dugna – Mother of the universe!


I offer heartfelt thanks to the President of the Republic, to His Holiness Patriarch Tawadros II, to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and to the Coptic-Catholic Patriarch, all of whom invited me. I also thank each of you for opening your hearts to me, and in particular all those who worked so hard to make this journey possible.


I would like this visit to be a witness of my affection, comfort and encouragement for all the Christians of the Middle East, a message of friendship and respect for all the inhabitants of Egypt and the region, and a message of brotherhood and reconciliation with all the children of Abraham, particularly the Muslim world, in which Egypt holds so important a place. I would also hope that my visit will make a fruitful contribution to interreligious dialogue with the followers of Islam and to ecumenical dialogue with the venerable and beloved Coptic Orthodox Church.


Our world is torn by blind violence, a violence that has also struck the heart of your beloved land.Our world needs peace, love and mercy. It needs peacemakers, people who are free and who set others free, men and women of courage who can learn from the past in order to build the future, free of every form of prejudice. Our world needs people who can build bridges of peace, dialogue, fraternity, justice and humanity.


Dear Egyptian brothers and sisters, young and old, women and men, Muslims and Christians, rich and poor… I embrace you warmly and I ask Almighty God to bless you and protect your country from every evil.


Please pray for me! Shukran wa Tahiaì Misr! (Thank you and may Egypt flourish!).