Pope Francis reiterates message of peace ahead of Egypt visit

CAIRO – 27 April 2017: Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, tweeted Thursday that he will visit Egypt “as a pilgrim of peace.”

Please pray for my journey tomorrow as a pilgrim of peace to Egypt.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 27, 2017

In a video posted Tuesday by the Vatican, Pope Francis said he is coming to Cairo as a friend and a “messenger of peace.”

Cairo airport authorities on Tuesday declared a state of maximum emergency ahead of the Pope’s visit, evacuating parking lots and tightening inspection procedures. Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in Egypt Friday, April 28 and depart April 29.

A delegation of 60 reporters and journalists and another 60 assistants of Pope Francis arrived in Cairo Wednesday to prepare for the Pope’s imminent visit.

An official reception will greet Pope Francis at Cairo Airport, and then he will go to the presidential palace to meet President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

The Pope’s plan will include a meeting with the grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, at the International Peace Conference. He will then meet Pope Tawadros II, Patriarch of Alexandria, and various civil authorities.