Pope Tawadros II in Japan for Egyptian Church inauguration

CAIRO - 26 August 2017: Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark’s Diocese Tawadros II arrived in Japan on Saturday to take part in the ceremony of the opening of the Egyptian Church, where he expressed his pleasure of visiting the country for the first time.

“The Church doesn’t know geographical borders; we will look after Copts anywhere in the world,” Pope Tawadros II said. He asserted that opening an Egyptian church in Japan is considered proof that love and religion don’t know nationalities or borders, adding that the Coptic Church offers love everywhere and opens its arms to all people, no matter their color, race or nationality.

“We have learned a lot from Japan,” the pope said, describing Japanese people as active and diligent, with a great history and civilization. “The Japanese became one of the greatest nations in the world, despite what they suffered in WWII,” he added, praising the role of new Japanese schools in Egypt.

On Friday, Pope Tawadros II headed to the UAE en route to Japan within his two-week tour that will also take him to Australia.

While in Dubai, the pope met with Egyptian consul Tareq Abdel Hamid and commercial attache Younan Edward, as well as father Mina Hanna, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and other priests.

The pope is scheduled to go to Australia after Japan to carry out several pastoral activities, including laying the foundation stone of the Sydney Archbishopric, as well as the foundation stone of a new church in Kellyville.