Egyptiske katolikker forbereder seg på å ønske paven velkommen

Coptic Catholic Patriarch's Message to St. Mark's Disciples

CAIRO, FEB 15 (ZENIT).- Stating that this would be the first visit of a Bishop of Rome to "our motherland, Egypt," Coptic Catholic Patriarch Stéphanos II Ghattas officially announced to the faithful of the land of the Pharaohs the imminent trip of John Paul II to the country, which will take place from February 24-26. This will be one of several stages in the Holy Father's pilgrimage to the places of salvation, which Peter's successor will continue at the end of March in the Holy Land.

The message is written in heavy patriarchal language. It refers to "the first visit of the holder of the See of St. Peter to the one of the See of St. Mark," as the Coptic Church was founded in Alexandria by St. Mark, the Evangelist, around the year 40. This was a gentle and very swift evangelization. By the end of the 1st century, 20% of Egypt was already Christian. By the 4th century, the whole country had converted to the Gospel.

During his visit, John Paul II will also meet Coptic Patriarch Shenuda III, who visited the Vatican back in 1973, during Paul VI's pontificate. He leads that portion of Copts who are not united to Rome.

The Coptic Catholic Patriarch's message refers to the meeting the Pontiff will have with the Grand Imam Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, the highest Muslim authority in Egypt and reference point of the ancient University of Al-Azhar, which is one of the major religious poles of the country. The Vatican and this university institution have established a joint Commission for inter-religious dialogue. The forthcoming meeting will "will crown the efforts" made to date, Patriarch Stephanos's message emphasizes.

Finally, the Egyptian Patriarch recommends that three days of prayer be held beginning today in all Catholic convents and churches. This time of prayer will prepare hearts for the papal visit to the land of Moses' birth, and the place that welcomed Abraham. John Paul II will arrive in Egypt during the meeting of the Second Council of Alexandria, which will study the faith in depth and renew the interior life. In concluding the message, Stephanos II hopes that the papal visit will help promote peace in the Middle East and throughout the world.

Zenit - The World Seen From Rome