General Audience: Pope reflects on Apostolic Voyage to
Egypt
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis reflected on last weekend’s
Apostolic Voyage to Egypt during his weekly General Audience, recalling the
various stages of his trip.
The Holy Father thanked the people of Egypt for their warm
welcome, and noted the “extraordinary commitment” of the Egyptian authorities
to ensure his visit went off without a hitch.
He spoke of his visit to the Al-Azhar University, which was
focused on both “dialogue between Christians and Muslims” and “the
promotion of peace” in the world. Pope Francis summarized his
address at the International Conference for peace, emphasizing Egypt’s history
as a “land of civility” and a “land of covenant.” Egypt, he said,
echoing the speech of the Grand Imam, “reminds us that peace is built through
education, formation in wisdom, a humanism that includes the religious
dimension, the relationship with God, as an integral part.” He continued,
saying peace is built on the relationship between God and men, and on the
alliance between all men. This, the pope said, is the foundation for a civil
and social order in which all are called to participate.
Pope Francis also spoke about the role of Christians, who
are called to be a “leaven of fraternity, in Egypt and elsewhere. He said his
meeting with his “dear brother” Pope Tawadros II – the Coptic Orthodox
Patriarch – and their “Common Statement” were signs of the commitment of
Christians to that fraternity. The Pope recalled the prayers for the martyrs of
the Coptic Orthodox Church, the victims of very recent violence, whose
sacrifice and common witness lent a particular fruitfulness to the work of
ecumenism.
The second day of the Pope’s voyage was dedicated to the
Catholic faithful. The Mass celebrated by Pope Francis was, he said, a feast of
faith and fraternity. He recalled his homily, in which he encouraged Egyptian
Catholics to relive the experience of the disciples at Emmaus, when they “encountered
the Lord.”
The Holy Father also reflected on the final event of his
Voyage, the meeting with priests, religious, and seminarians. He noted in
particular the many seminarians in Egypt, which he called a “consolation.”
Concluding his remarks, Pope Francis said Christians in the
region, guided by their pastors, should be “salt and light” for the Middle
East. He called his voyage to Egypt a sign of hope, refuge, and help.” His
voyage, he said, “signifies walking together along the path of hope,” and called
Egypt a “sign of hope” for fraternity, not just in the past, but also in the
present day.
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