Pope Tawadros says achievements took place in Egypt over past years qualify it to be named “new republic”

CAIRO – 15 November 2021: Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and patriarch of the See of St. Mark said that the achievements and overall development Egypt has been witnessing nationwide over the past seven years truly qualify it to be named as a "new republic".

"These achievements would have taken at least 30 years to become a reality," Pope Tawadros said in statements to eXtra News channel on Sunday evening.

He stressed that the mission of ‘citizen-building’ has been the most challenging of all since time immemorial, noting that the character of any person in influenced by five main factors, namely: “family, education, religion, society and friends and the media.”

Pope Tawadros said that all terrorists have been found to have something in common, which is ‘poor upbringing’.

While the country is engaged in a war on terrorism, it is also facing another battle for development and building citizens' awareness, Pope Tawadros said. He stressed that "our national unity is the most precious gift we must preserve."

"To maintain such unity, one must show respect for others, uphold the values of equality and citizenship, and adopt a visionary long-term perspective for the nation's future," the pontiff added.

In his statements, Pope Tawadros highlighted President Abdel Fattah al Sisi visit to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral and his congratulations on the Christmas and the New Year. He said that this gesture came as a correction from the political leadership to overcome all of the previous circumstances and conditions.

He also said that attending the inauguration of the new Suez Canal was one of the best moments he witnessed, urging all youth to visit it.

He said that back in 2013, everything was unsettling in Egypt, until ‘July 3rd’. ‘On this day I was invited along with other 20 public figures to a meeting led by the current president Sisi’. Pope Tawadros said.

He added that he engaged in discussions in which a lot of things were explained as they approved at certain main points. And later on, the ‘July 3rd’ statement was read.

“Back then I was receiving phone calls about incidents that is taking place everywhere, they were saying that a church was damaged or burned. And kept thinking what I should say or do, but then I said that if they burned the churches, we will pray with our brothers in the mosques, and if they burn the mosques, we will pray in the streets.” Pope Tawadros said.