President Sisi meets World Council of Churches delegation, affirms Egypt’s role as land of peace and tolerance

CAIRO - 28 October 2025: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Tuesday a delegation from the World Council of Churches (WCC), headed by Rev. Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the Council, in the presence of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs.

The delegation included Bishop Henriette Bedford-Storm, General Coordinator of the Council; Bishop Viken Ekazian and Rev. Marilyn Headey-Riley, Deputy General Coordinators; His Grace Bishop Thomas, Bishop of Qusiya and Mir and member of the WCC Central Committee; and His Grace Bishop Abraham, General Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and member of the Secretariat of the Holy Synod and the WCC Central Committee.

The Official Spokesperson for the Presidency stated that President El-Sisi welcomed the delegation and congratulated them on the success of the Sixth World Council of Churches Conference, hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church in Wadi El Natrun.

The President noted that holding this conference in Egypt—the first of its kind in Africa and Asia since 1927—underscores Egypt’s profound spiritual and historical significance.

President El-Sisi expressed his deep appreciation for His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the national and spiritual role of the Egyptian Church. He emphasized that Egypt, which embraced the Holy Family and many apostles and prophets, will always remain a land of peace and tolerance. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of worship and belief, and to promoting dialogue among religious institutions to strengthen the values of understanding and coexistence.

Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy added that the President reviewed Egypt’s ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza, including its hosting of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit. He stressed the importance of the support of the World Council of Churches and other religious institutions in promoting a lasting ceasefire and contributing to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

For their part, members of the WCC delegation expressed appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal regional role and for the President’s leadership in halting the war in Gaza. They noted that the world recognizes Egypt’s humanitarian and diplomatic efforts, expressing hope for achieving justice and peace in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, and other regions suffering from conflict. They praised President El-Sisi’s wisdom in crisis management as a model for global leadership.

The Official Spokesperson further stated that the delegation commended Egypt’s efforts in the Sudanese crisis, praising the country’s hosting of more than five million Sudanese refugees who enjoy equal access to public services. They described Egypt’s humanitarian stance as noble and exemplary.

In this context, President El-Sisi noted that Egypt currently hosts nearly ten million foreigners displaced by wars and crises, highlighting the Egyptian people’s enduring spirit of generosity and solidarity toward all, without discrimination.

The WCC delegation also expressed their gratitude for Egypt’s continuous efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, and for the unprecedented freedom of belief and worship they witnessed in the country. They commended the President’s annual tradition of visiting the Egyptian Church to offer Christmas greetings to Coptic Christians, describing it as a powerful expression of unity and mutual respect.

President El-Sisi, in turn, reaffirmed his happiness in joining the Coptic community during their celebrations, out of deep appreciation for their role and for His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. He concluded by stressing the crucial role of religious institutions in advancing peace and rejecting violence and hatred.