Egypt’s FM contacts Pope Tawadros II to check on his health

CAIRO – 19 January 2026: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty phoned His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, to inquire about his health following a recent surgical procedure.

During the call, Abdelatty conveyed his sincere wishes for the pope’s full recovery and continued good health, underscoring his concern for His Holiness’s well-being and expressing deep appreciation for his national and spiritual role.

For his part, Pope Tawadros II thanked the foreign minister for the thoughtful gesture, noting that it reflects the depth of human relations and the spirit of mutual love and respect.

Two days earlier, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also contacted Pope Tawadros II to check on his health.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Coptic Orthodox Church announced that Pope Tawadros II had successfully undergone surgery on one of his kidneys. The statement added that the pope is currently spending several days in a hospital in Austria for post-operative medical monitoring, in accordance with doctors’ recommendations, to ensure his condition remains stable.

Following his discharge, Pope Tawadros II is expected to move to St. Anthony’s Monastery in Austria to continue his recovery before returning to Egypt and resuming his pastoral and ecclesiastical duties.