CAIRO – 6 January 2021: Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Pope Tawadros II over a video conference to wish Copts and all Egyptians a merry Christmas, which is celebrated by Orthodox Christians on Jan. 7.
Sisi is the first Egyptian president who made it customary to visit the Cathedral on Jan. 7 of every year since 2015, which Copts in Egypt have held high regard. The coronavirus pandemic, however, prevented such visit.
In the video conference, the president emphasized citizenship and that no Egyptian’s rights and duties should be determined by his religion.
Sisi said Egypt has a long history of coexistence between Muslims and Christians, adding that enemies of the country think that attacking comes begins at the heart, which is the unity of its people. However, he continued, the unity of the Egyptian people is something they are very proud of.
For his part, Pope Tawadros II thanked Sisi for the “patriotic gesture,” highlighting the “signals and messages” that this personal custom of the president entrenches unity and citizenship in the society.
Wed, Jan. 6, 2021
