On Wednesday, 29 August, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with H.H. Pope Tawadros II and a delegation from the First International Youth Forum of Egypt’s Coptic Church.

According to a statement released by the Office of the Presidency, President El Sisi “welcomed the young Copts from the world’s various continents, who are participating in the first ever forum for the youth of Coptic expatriates” and “underscored the importance of this forum which seeks to link Egyptian expatriates and the new generations with their homeland.”

President El Sisi also “underscored his profound appreciation of and respect for the Egyptian Church under the leadership of H.H. Pope Tawadros II,” and “reiterated that over the ages, national unity in Egypt has always been firm, and its Muslims and Copts have always been sharing strong bonds of brotherhood and co-existence.”

For more information, see the release from the Office of the Presidency below.

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President El Sisi Meets H.H. Pope Tawadros II, and a Delegation from the First International Youth Forum of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church

Today, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and a delegation from the First International Youth Forum of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church.

President El Sisi welcomed the young Copts from the world’s various continents, who are participating in the first ever forum for the youth of Coptic expatriates. In addition to its spiritual aspect, the forum’s program includes cultural and tourist visits to Egypt’s landmarks. President El Sisi underscored the importance of this forum which seeks to link Egyptian expatriates and the new generations with their homeland and helps open up new channels of direct communications with young Egyptian expatriates, offering them an understanding of the developments in their homeland as well as efforts exerted across various levels to achieve economic and social development.

President El Sisi underscored his profound appreciation of and respect for the Egyptian Church under the leadership of H.H. Pope Tawadros II, who is a national figure with an outstanding role over the past years. The President confirmed that Egypt values its citizens and takes pride in their achievements and successes domestically and abroad. He reiterated that over the ages, national unity in Egypt has always been firm, and its Muslims and Copts have always been sharing strong bonds of brotherhood and co-existence.

President El Sisi held an open discussion with the participating youths and reviewed the latest developments in Egypt including the comprehensive development process underway which aims to create a brighter future across all aspects of life, in which the values and principles of non-discrimination and co-existence are established. He stressed that the current period witnesses a reformulation of the Egyptian national character, particularly in education and health services.