PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis concludes two-day visit to Egypt

CAIRO – 29 April 2017: Pope Francis concluded his two-day visit to Egypt with President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi bidding the Roman Catholic leader farewell at Cairo Airport at the end of the visit.

The Pope started his visit by meeting the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, and urged leaders of all religions to denounce violence and acts of terror committed under God’s name.

The visit aimed to fostering reconciliation with the Muslim world following recent attacks against the Middle East’s biggest Christian community.

After attending a peace conference at Al-Azhar, the Pope and Sisi arrived at Al-Masa Hotel.

Pope Francis, during his speech at Al-Masa Hotel, emphasized Egypt's role in fighting terrorism in the region, highlighting its pacifist role and citing some milestones from its Biblical and modern history.

Following his speech at the hotel, local news outlets reported that Pope Tawadros II, head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, received Pope Francis at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo's Abbassiya district.

On Saturday, Pope Francis arrived at the Seminary College of Coptic Catholics in Maadi district, south of Cairo, to meet with representatives of Coptic churches on the second day of his official visit to Egypt.

Pope Francis’ second and final day in Egypt started with His Holiness leading Holy Mass at the Air Defense Stadium in New Cairo.

The visit marks the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Egypt and the Holy See.