Cathedral of the Nativity is a symbolic response to terrorists targeting Copts: Sisi

CAIRO - 6 January 2019: Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah al Sisi said that the real lesson behind the inauguration of the Nativity of the Christ Cathedral is that Egyptian Muslims and Christians will always stay united despite all the sectarian strives.

Al Sisi quoted Pope Tawadros from 2013 in the wake of the terrorist attacks against Egypt’s churches and Copts, when the Pope said “A country without churches is better than churches without a country”, in a clear gesture of defiance against terrorists’ actions against the Egyptian Coptic minority.

The president said that the awareness and patriotism are the main obstacles to the terrorists’ heinous plans to divide the Egyptian nation. “We have built 14 new cities and the biggest church in the Middle East in response to terrorists’ foul schemes.

The President ended his speech by greeting the Christian worshipers after a brief speech to allow the start of the Cathedral mass.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated Egypt's largest church and mosque in the New Administrative Capital on Sunday, the eve of Coptic Christmas, in a symbolic message of tolerance in the predominantly Muslim nation.

US President Donald Trump said earlier that he is looking forward to see the inauguration of the “Cathedral of the birth of Christ” in the New Administrative Capital on Sunday, which is considered the biggest cathedral in the Middle East.