Coptic Orthodox Church UK Media and Communications
Office
Comment from His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop
of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom, following the departure of
His Holiness Pope Francis
Photographs courtesy of The Vatican
21 April 2025
We offer our deepest condolences to our beloved Catholic sisters and
brothers in Britain and around the world on the passing of His Holiness, the Late
Pope Francis. It will be a comfort to many that he was able to celebrate the
Resurrection of our Lord with his flock and appeared on the balcony in Saint
Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday before resting in peace early on Monday
morning. We are reminded of and take comfort from our Lord’s assurances to
Martha in John 11:25, when "Jesus said to her, ‘I am the Resurrection and
the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’”
In life, Pope Francis was a shepherd to many as a man of humility,
courage, and conviction. Whilst his approach on certain matters divided
opinion, no one could deny the underlying depth and genuineness of his pastoral
care and concern.
Having had the privilege of meeting with Pope Francis on numerous
occasions throughout his papacy, I will especially treasure the memory of
accompanying His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to the Vatican to mark the fiftieth
anniversary of the Christological Agreement between the Coptic Orthodox Church
and the Roman Catholic Church. During this visit, in which we beheld the
unprecedented image of the two Popes addressing the crowd in Saint Peter's
Square, Pope Francis announced the inclusion of the 21 Coptic Martyrs of Libya
in the Roman Martyrology; a powerful proclamation of our shared Christian
heritage.
We pray repose for the soul of Pope Francis, comfort for his spiritual
children, and wisdom and discernment for, when the time comes, the selection of
a shepherd, that our Lord may choose that shepherd after His own heart.
Praying rest eternal. May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.
10th Anniversary of the 21 Libya Martyrs marked worldwide with events in Washington DC, the City of London and the Palace of Westminster, Papal Messages from HH Pope Tawadros II and HH Pope Francis, screenings of ‘The 21’, and at Church House.
View the Official release via www.Refcemi.org
On 15 February 2025, the Coptic Orthodox Church worldwide commemorated the 10th anniversary of the martyrdom of the twenty-one Christians executed by the caliphate in Libya in 2015. Twenty of the martyrs were Coptic Orthodox Christians from Upper Egypt, with the twenty-first being their Ghanaian friend, Matthew. His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos OBE, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, Papal Legate to the United Kingdom, and founder and Director of Refcemi, the Coptic Orthodox Office for advocacy and public policy, hosted and took part in a number of events marking this anniversary.
WASHINGTON DC
(Photos will be available on ServingLondon.com via The Gallery) During the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington DC on February 4 and 5, a special screening of The 21, a short animation directed by Tod Polson and produced by Mark Rogers and Mandi Hart, was viewed by attendees of the Summit, which included an extensive audience of Freedom of Religion of Belief advocates, faith leaders, policy makers and representatives from over 41 countries. His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos was part of an advisory committee that helped shape the overall narrative of ‘The 21’. The film can be viewed via www.The21Film.com.
The Screening of The 21 was followed by a moving testimony by Abanoub, a nephew of three of the Libya martyrs, who said the following in his address:
“My name is Abanoub, and I am a Coptic Christian. In just a few days, the world will mark the 10th anniversary of the [murder] of the 21 Coptic Martyrs on a beach in Libya. This anniversary holds a personal weight for me. You see, three of those men were my uncles. It is not easy to speak of this loss, but it is necessary…through their sacrifice I am proud to stand here alongside my Coptic brothers and sisters and tell you we will always survive and never give up our right to bring glory to Christ’s name. This is what the Copts have always done. We have survived. We have endured, and we will continue to do so, simply because the cross we carry is stronger than the swords raised against us.
Today, I ask you to remember the 21, not as victims, but as martyrs. Not as names on a list, but as witnesses of Faith...”
On Monday 10 February, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London hosted an event at The Sanctuary, its ministry hub in the City of London featuring a number of addresses, a screening of ‘The 21’, and a special exhibition by artist Julie Scott who painted a piece especially for the commemoration entitled ‘Silently Waiting’.
A welcome was given by Diocesan Vicar Fr Shenouda Asham, Papal Messages were received from His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, and His Holiness Pope Francis, and addresses were delivered by Producer, Mandi Hart, Richard Austen, Chairman of the Nikaean Club, The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Winchester, Bishop Philip Mounstephen, His Excellency Sherif Kamel, Ambassador of Egypt to the Court of St James, and His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom.
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos said the following in his address:
“These 21 men have inspired me in so many ways. Even unto their last breath they did not seek pity or mercy, neither did they shout out in vengeance or anger. They chose to profess their Faith even until their very last breath. We are also inspired by their family members, those courageous women, mothers and sisters who chose to forgive, and who chose love and not hate. It was a privilege to share time in Egypt with these families, to pray with them and experience their remarkable, and for some, inconceivable, attitude of thanksgiving for the testimony of their brave martyrs.”
“The horrific video that was produced by the perpetrators of this mass murder was meant to frighten us. It was meant to scare us all into submission; to warn us and to change our course. Well, it did indeed change the course of the world, The tool that was supposed to have been the source of our weakness has become our strength. The source of our humiliation has become our pride; and the video that was supposed to dehumanise and commodify these men has forever made them our martyrs. Not just the martyrs of the Coptic Orthodox Church, but the martyrs of the global Church.”
The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Winchester, Bishop Philip Mounstephen gave a stark reminder that martyrdom is not unusual for Christians, saying the following:
“How should we react ten years on to those young men’s martyrdom? What I want to suggest to you today is that we should learn from them, and I want to suggest two things we should learn from them.
The first thing we should learn is that their experience, horrible and terrible though it was, is not unusual. The German theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar, writing nearly 70 years ago, in the wake of the Second World War, wrote this, “Persecution constitutes the normal condition of the Church in her relation to the world, and martyrdom is the normal condition of the professed Christian…
And the second lesson we should learn from those young men is that our commitment to Jesus Christ must be non-negotiable. Remember that those young men died with the name of the Lord Jesus on their lips. Far from renouncing their faith as was demanded of them, they died with His name on their lips.”
His Excellency, the Ambassador of Egypt, said the following in his address:
“The Church of the Martyrs, in their home Governorate Al Minya, in Upper Egypt, is named as such to keep their memory alive for generations of Egyptians; to remember their sacrifice and celebrate their courage. It will always stand as a symbol of our strong resolve and determination not to allow forces of darkness and hatred to prevail or even exist, if we can.”
Mandi Hart said the following in her address:
“Twenty-one anonymous men became globally renowned based on a brutal piece of propaganda produced by their killers. Six years ago, my business partner and I began a conversation about how their story could be more honourably and accurately told. We wanted especially to highlight the spiritual victory they won on the beach where they gave up their lives and we wanted the Coptic community’s involvement all the way through. More than anything, this is your story, and we were determined to maintain fidelity to your tradition in the making of the film and the final result.”
Richard Austen, who took part in an ecumenical pilgrimage to Egypt with His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos in 2019, said the following in his address:
“We were all struck by the steadfastness and determination of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. Some of us may have expected to find a Church in decline, but the resilient faith of the Church coping with the challenges and tragedies of martyrdom and persecution was a real inspiration to us all. We were delighted to find that the Coptic Orthodox Church is very much alive as it rises above persecution.”
“Rather than going underground or seeking retribution or revenge it was clear that they are responding in faith and with love to those who seek to persecute them... The graciousness of the Coptic Christians and the daily living out of their faith was an inspiration to all of us.”
On 11 February 2025, Refcemi, in conjunction with the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London, held a 21 Libya Martyrs event in The Palace of Westminster, hosted by The Lord Alton of Liverpool, Chair of Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights. The event, which also included Papal Messages, the recorded testimony of Abanoub, nephew to 3 of the Libya martyrs, a screening of ‘The 21’, and an exhibition by Julie Scott, involved a welcome by Dr Ewelina Ochab, Deputy Director of Refcemi, and addresses by The Rt Rev, the Lord Bishop of Southwark, Bishop Christopher Chessun, The Lord Bishop of Winchester, an address from David Smith MP, UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Mandi Hart, and His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Director of Refcemi.
The Lord Alton of Liverpool, Chair of Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights said the following in his address:
“It is fitting that people have come to Westminster today to commemorate the twenty-one Christians who were so brutally murdered in Libya by insurgents from Isis. They were murdered, of course, simply for being the people that they were, people of a firm, clear Faith. They were doing no one any harm.
It brings home to me the importance of standing firm against those organizations that commit acts of terror.”
The Rt Rev, the Lord Bishop of Southwark, Bishop Christopher Chessun, said in his address:
“So it was on 15 February 2015, by the Mediterranean Sea in Libya, that twenty-one Coptic Christians refused to deny Jesus Christ and His Cross, and were beheaded. All were from ordinary backgrounds working to provide money for their families. A few words could have saved them from the sword, but they would not deny Him Who died for them. It has been very moving to see one of the early viewings of ‘The 21’ and our hearts resonate with the cry of the martyrs, Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy.
Tertullian, “the Father of Western Theology” is famous for saying at the end of the 2nd Century AD, what is often rendered as "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church" What can it mean? Tragedy certainly. A heroic example, yes. A call to work for a world that does not hate in this way, of course. But also, a call to us to witness likewise, hopefully not by the shedding of blood, but to take seriously our calling to be Christ’s ambassadors in the world and to be every bit as worthy of our calling as these saints and martyrs were of theirs. Indeed, we too are called to be faithful.”
The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Winchester, Bishop Philip Mounstephen spoke about the importance of continuing to address freedom of religion or belief violations (FoRB) worldwide, saying the following:
“According to the Pew Research, over 80% of the world’s population lives in countries with high or very high restrictions on religion, with Christians being the most widely persecuted group, facing restrictions in 144 countries.”
“So we can no longer say that the denial of Freedom of Religion or Belief is a sidebar issue for a special interest group, or that religious literacy is optional. These are huge issues that we face in the world today, and we have to be on top of them. The time for inaction and indifference is long over. That is why I believe, and will continue to argue, that FoRB ought to be central to our approach to foreign policy.”
The UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP said in his address:
“I know that the Church and religious groups generally, along with civil society and charities, very often do things that government, as important as it is, cannot do. Often when we get briefings, situations on the ground and so on, they come directly from church groups, religious groups, or charities working on the frontline, and so I want to thank you for all that you’re doing.”
“I know you are here to commemorate the lives of the Twenty-One and I wanted to come and offer my solidarity. This is a really important moment to remember. The horrors of what happened in Libya lead us to do all we can to prevent atrocities like that from happening again.”
“I really believe that our Government now cares deeply about this issue, but again, it is only in working together that we can achieve this across Government and civil society, across religions, and across the world. We must do this together.”
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos thanked Mandi Hart and the team at More Productions for their efforts in faithfully presenting the harrowing experience of the Libya Martyrs in the film ‘The 21’ as victors and not as victims; also thanking Julie Scott for her moving artwork, continuing his address with the following:
“We know that carrying our Cross as Christians is part of our journey, but it does not turn us into victims, it is actually our strength. It is our resilience. It is the core of our belief and the source of our courage, and tonight we remember the courage and resilience of those twenty-one men and their families.”
“These men are immortalised in our iconography, but they are also sons and fathers, uncles and brothers to many who live until today, and many of whom I met last year and I give thanks for…This, despite the tragedy of what has happened, is a day of joy and celebration, not over what happened, but for the way that those to whom it happened faithfully lived their lives, and chose to meet their end.”
GENERAL SYNOD, LONDON
On Friday 14 February The Most Rev. and the Rt Hon. the Lord Archbishop of York, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, made the following mention during The Church of England General Synod in London:
“I want to give thanks for the freedom that we have to gather here as a Synod and the freedom that we have to worship in our churches week by week, because I was yesterday reminded by our dear brother Archbishop Angaelos that this weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the twenty-one Christians who were martyred in Libya, all but one of them members of the Coptic Church that he serves. They were, in life, like each of us, a member of a denomination, but in death they were Christians, and they were simply followers of Jesus Christ; and it was for that they were killed. In remembering them, and I hope you will remember them in your churches and in your prayers this weekend, it is a sober reminder of the persecution that still exists for many of our sisters and brothers in Christ across the world, and the price that they pay for their witness to the Gospel.”
The 21 Short Animation: Watch and find out more via https://www.the21film.com . Read more about the private screening of The 21 at The Sanctuary in London on 27 August 2024 here
Contemporary Martyrs Day: On 15 February each year, the Coptic Orthodox Church worldwide commemorates the lives of its contemporary martyrs, while also marking the anniversary of the martyrdom of the 21 executed by ISIS in Libya on 15 February 2015. Contemporary Martyrs Day is an opportunity to give thanks for the lives of those who faithfully practiced their Christian Faith until their last breath, while at the same time raising awareness of the ongoing plight of all those who are persecuted solely on the basis of faith or belief, and advocate for those whose voices are not heard.
Refcemi is the Coptic Orthodox Office for Advocacy and Public Policy, find out more via www.Refcemi.org
Coptic New Year
celebrated in St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, with messages from Her Majesty
the Queen, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the Archbishop of Canterbury
and His Holiness Pope Francis
10 October 2019
Messages from Her Majesty The Queen, His
Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, The Most Reverend Archbishop Justin Welby and
His Holiness Pope Francis, were read during the annual Coptic New Year Service
at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey on 8 October 2019. The Very Reverend
Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster welcomed over four hundred and fifty guests
from the House of Lords and House of Commons, the Diplomatic Corps, the Foreign
Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, and humanitarian and advocacy
organisations, various ecumenical and inter-religious guests, and members of
the Coptic Orthodox community in the United Kingdom.
After his welcome, His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, thanked The Very
Reverend Dr John Hall for his support during his time as Dean of Westminster,
and wished him every blessing for the next stages of his ministry, presenting a
Coptic icon of St John the Beloved, on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox community
in Britain.
The traditional Coptic vespers service was
officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, who delivered a sermon on the
theme of unity and solidarity, encouraging congregants to be light in darkness,
and unified in bringing hope to all, despite challenges faced.
Towards the end of the evening, addresses
were delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of
Thyateira and Great Britain, His Excellency Tarek Adel, Ambassador of Egypt to
the United Kingdom, The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the
Commonwealth and the United Nations, and Prime Minister’s Special
Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, and The Viscount
Younger of Leckie, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for
Faith and Communities.
The message from Her Majesty The Queen, read by The Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall, Bishop of Ebbsfleet, conveyed warm wishes to the clergy and congregation of the Coptic Orthodox
Church, as well as all in attendance; also honouring those who have made the
ultimate sacrifice for their Christian Faith. His Royal Highness The Prince of
Wales, also extended warm wishes to the Coptic Orthodox community in his
message read by The Right Reverend James Newcome DL, Bishop of Carlisle, offering heartfelt prayers for those who continue to face persecution
and suffering for their Faith.
The Archbishop
of Canterbury, in his message to the Coptic Orthodox community, presented by
The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, said:
“It is my great pleasure to
send you greetings as you celebrate Nayrouz once again…At new year we look back
at the years past and forward to the years ahead. As we look back we remember
all those who have gone before us, not least those who have shed their blood as
martyrs for the faith. Those who go before make us what we are today.”
“May each one of us, united
in our faith in Jesus Christ, be the one who announces peace, salvation and the
Kingdom of God in his world.”
His Holiness
Pope Francis, in a message presented by His Excellency Archbishop Edward Joseph
Adams, Apostolic Nuncio, recalled the fraternal bond with His Holiness Pope
Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and
offered warm wishes to the Coptic Orthodox community:
“Informed of this observance,
Pope Francis, in recalling the bond that united him with his dear brother His
Holiness Pope Tawadros II, addresses a special greeting to the Coptic Orthodox
Church, which has been able to give a true testimony of Faith and love even in
the most difficult moments.
Pope Francis takes this
opportunity of the beginning of the Coptic Year to express again his best
wishes for peace and health, together with gladness and appreciation of the
spiritual ties that unite the See of Peter with the See of Mark.”
His Eminence Archbishop
Angaelos, in his sermon, spoke of the reason for celebrating the Coptic New
Year in St Margaret’s Church, saying:
“The reason we come back to
this place every year, is so that we can gather together in prayer, but also
because this place, where it is situated, who it serves, and what it stands
for, is light in darkness.
We have seen so much turmoil
over the past few months, even years, yet it is only in places like this,
places of prayer, places of grace, places of unity and solidarity, that we are able
to shine light in darkness.”
Explaining the
meaning behind the Feast of Nayrouz, His Eminence continued:
“The Coptic Calendar begins in 284AD, the start of the reign of Emperor
Diocletian, to honour the hundreds of thousands, and some even estimate
millions, of Egyptian Christians who paid the ultimate price for their Christian
Faith, during his reign. Since then, Coptic Orthdox Christians have continued
to witness to their Faith in Egypt and around the world, often facing
challenges, with remarkable graciousness, patience, resilience, and
forgiveness.”
His Eminence
Archbishop Nikitas, began his address with a reminder of the significance of
reflecting on the past as well as looking forward to the future:
“It is important that we
recall that in ancient times faithful communities celebrated this as the
beginning of the New Year, to also remind ourselves to a commitment to change;
perhaps it is that ideal of a New Year resolution, to change our ways and our
lives and our hearts and to allow our ways of the past, our sins, to remain
there.”
“May this new year be the
year of grace, and joy and happiness and for the people of your communities
throughout the world, may the words of the Prophet King David be fulfilled, for
he said to God ‘You have changed my mourning into dancing’, and may there be no
mourning for the Coptic people and the Orthodox communities, but may they be
filled with righteousness, joy and even dancing, and dancing from this world to
the Kingdom of God.”
His Excellency Tarek
Adel, commended the Coptic Orthodox community for their courage and faith
during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, saying:
“We are indeed indebted to
the martyrs of Egypt, they shone as beacons of light and gave the people
strength and faith.”
His Excellency
went on to say:
“From this great place of
worship I want to stress that peace and harmony, and the most important thing,
coexistence, should be the guiding principle of any civilised society. We are
proud that Egypt has the largest Christian community in the Middle East, and we
intend to keep on working to create and enhance a conducive environment for all
Egyptians to prosper and reach their full potential regardless of their faith.
We also hope that those who insist on building walls, or spreading fear, will
come to understand that our only hope as humans is to live together in peace
and harmony.”
“I also take this opportunity
to convey the warm greetings of His Excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President
of Egypt.”
The Lord Ahmad
of Wimbledon spoke of the Coptic Orthodox Church’s official engagement in his
address, the importance of people of faith advocating for one another:
“For people of all faiths and
beliefs, marking the New Year is an opportunity both to look back and reflect,
but also to look forward with hope and optimism.”
“There are many people I wish
to thank, but perhaps none more so than His Eminence…He is not only a wise counsel
but very much in the truest sense a sincere friend.”
“I pay tribute to the many
selfless individuals around the world who continue to campaign for the
importance and priority of religious freedom, who inspire us with their own
example and courage. And everywhere I go I live by my own belief, of my own
faith, that surely the greatest test of our own faith is the conviction we show
in standing up for the faith or belief of others.”
The Viscount
Younger of Leckie, commended the Coptic Orthodox community in the United
Kingdom and echoed His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos in speaking strongly on
solidarity:
“It would be remiss of me not
to commend the exceptional contributions made by members of the British Coptic
Orthodox community, many of whom I know go to great lengths to support the most
vulnerable people in our society, including those threatened with homelessness.
Your acts speak to the incredible selflessness and ultraism of your community.
Such displays of kindness and generosity show Britain at its best and set an
example for us all to follow.”
“Your Eminence, you have
spoken with great passion and wisdom on the significance of solidarity and
friendship. The importance of renewing and strengthening those ties that bind
us together. This is a vision that I wholeheartedly endorse, we remain the
world’s most successful, multi-faith, multi-ethnic nation and London is the
world’s greatest, most diverse city. That is only really possible when we do
not take it for granted, and that is why it is important for all of us to ask
ourselves what more can I do to serve my community, to whom can I extend the
hand of friendship, how can I help a neighbour in need.”
The concluding words in the sermon of His Eminence
Archbishop Angaelos, encapsulated the overall ethos of the evening:
“At this time of great anxiety and uncertainty in many parts
of the world, as well as our own, it is both significant and important that we
gather this evening in prayer, from across the spectrum of the Church, faith,
belief, and the breadth of our community and stand as one in our ongoing
journey and relationship, and our commitment to one another.”
“We are an icon of what is it
to be one in our diversity. We are different and that difference projects the
beauty of God’s creation, and yet in that difference we must respect one
another, love one another, forgive one another, be reconciled to one another
and put ourselves aside for one another.”
“Tonight, as we gather, we
give thanks for this unity, we give thanks for this icon, we give thanks for
the life that we have, and we give thanks for the life we are promised even
beyond the grave.”
His
Grace Bishop Angaelos represents His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at an
international conference in Italy regarding the future of Christians in the
Middle East.
30 April 2015
His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop
of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, took part in an
international conference entitled ‘Christians in the Middle East: What Future?’
officially representing His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and
Patriarch of the See of St Mark.
The conference, which was held on 29-30
April 2015 in Bari Italy, was attended by patriarchs and heads of the Catholic,
Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches of the Middle East, along with
international political and governmental representatives, journalists,
academics and lay members of communities.
Speaking of the need for collaborative
efforts in responding to the extreme challenges that face Christians in the
Middle East, Bishop Angaelos said:
“It is time for greater
collaboration between our Churches, governments, organisations, and initiatives
like this, which will lead to greater results for all. If we do not take
ownership in responding to this situation and the needs of those suffering in
the Middle East now, opportunists will take our place and use this tragedy
and its victims for their own agenda. A lack of coordination will lead to a
fragmentation of what should be a very powerful voice of advocacy, as well as duplication and the wastage of resourses that are already limited in light of
the immense need.”
On the final day of the conference Bishop
Angaelos spoke about safeguarding the rights and freedoms of Christians in the
Middle East, and the importance of classifying them as indigenous people, saying:
“This must be
transformed from an issue of minorities to one of indigenous people who have
had their roots in these lands for not only decades or centuries but millennia. They are an intrinsic part of, and a stabilising force in, the
region, and losing them would be a loss to the whole world as they are, through their continuous presence, part of the history, institution and constitution of the Middle East.”
Speaking of the continued need for voicing
the issue and for advocacy efforts, Bishop Angaelos said:
“There has been such an
immense bravery and witness from so many in the region, including the Ethiopian
and Coptic martyrs who recently paid the ultimate price, the two Syrian archbishops
who remain missing, and so many more in Iraq and Syria. As Christian leaders we must continue to
speak with a voice that is nuanced, no longer referring to Christians of the East and West, but speaking as the one Body of Christ that suffers and witnesses equally
and is unified in proclaiming the Gospel.”
As part of the programme, attendees
gathered for a service of prayer dedicated to Christians of the Middle East in
the Basilica of San Nicola on Wednesday evening.
The conference was hosted collaboratively
by the Community of Sant’Egidio and the Catholic Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto in
response to an open plea by His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and
Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, for 'an appropriate response from
the international community to the challenges facing Christians in the Middle
East.'
Pope Tawadros visited Pope Francis at the Vatican
in May 2013, marking 40 years since the late Pope Shenouda III and the
late Pope Paul VI signed the historic Christological agreement between their
respective Churches at the Vatican in 1973. Bishop Angaelos, who was also part
of the delegation accompanying Pope Tawadros, said 'during this
visit, Their Holiness spoke of the shared heritage of martyrdom in their
Churches, which now seems almost prophetic in light of this and similar
meetings that attempt to respond to atrocities that continue to be faced by
members of their Churches today in the Middle East.'
