On Saturday, 6 January, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi joined Coptic Pope Tawadros II to celebrate Christmas mass in the newly-constructed Coptic Cathedral in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. President El Sisi’s visit marks the fourth consecutive year he has attended Christmas mass with Egypt’s Coptic community, since becoming the first president to do so in 2015.

According to Egypt’s MENA news agency, President El Sisi “greeted the attendees on the occasion of Christmas and wished them a happy new year,” and stated that “the inauguration of the new Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the New Administrative Capital sends a message of peace and love to the entire world.” President El Sisi told worshippers, “We will not allow any body to break the unity of Egyptians or pose a threat to our country.”

In his remarks, Pope Tawadros II “extended thanks to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for the establishment of the new Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the New Administrative Capital,” and “thanked all Egyptians for their generous donations and strenuous efforts to establish this project.”

The new Coptic Cathedral was financed as part of a joint fundraising appeal, which solicited donations from both Muslims and Christians in Egypt to one joint account to help build a new mosque and Coptic cathedral in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital.

For more, please see the MENA article below.

Pope Tawadros leads Xmas Mass with President Sisi presence
MENA
https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/123104?lang=en-us

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese led on Saturday 6/1/2018 the Christmas Mass in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

The Xmas Mass is being held at the new Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the New Administrative Capital.

Accompanied by President Sisi, Pope Tawadros entered the church’s main hall to lead the Mass amid a festive atmosphere.

In a brief speech, Sisi greeted the attendees on the occasion of Christmas and wished them a happy new year.

The inauguration of the new Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the New Administrative Capital sends a message of peace and love to the entire world, Sisi said in his speech.

“We will not allow any body to break the unity of Egyptians or pose a threat to our country,” Sisi stressed.

In his post-Mass speech, Pope Tawadros extended thanks to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for the establishment of the new Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the New Administrative Capital.

The new capital is one of the hugest projects that have been set up in Egypt during Sisi’s rule, Pope Tawadros said.

The pope thanked all Egyptians for their generous donations and strenuous efforts to establish this project.

The Pope said the new Cathedral is named “Nativity of Christ” as President Sisi announced it would be built while attending last year’s Christmas Mass at the Cathedral of St Mark in Abbasiya.

The new Cathedral enjoys the patronage of the political leadership, he added.

It shows an honorable image of our beloved country, said the pontiff.

The pope hailed the first Mass at the new Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the New Administrative Capital as a message from Egypt of its civilization and history.

He prayed for the martyrs of the homeland, the injured and for all Egyptians, appealing to the God to spread peace in all areas of conflict and help officials in their efforts.

The pontiff thanked the Armed Forces Engineering Authority for their continued efforts to accomplish the Cathedral project.

Acting Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, head of the president’s office Mostafa el Sherif, Secretary of the House of Representatives Soliman Wahdan, presidential aide Ibrahim Mahlab, presidential security adviser Ahmed Gamal el Din, presidential national security advised Fayza abul Naga, member of the advisory council of Egypt’s scientists and experts Hany Azer, a delegation of the Armed Forces, and Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry took part in the Mass.

Other ministers, public figures, and ambassadors were also present.