PHOTO GALLERY: Sisi receives Pope Francis in Cairo

CAIRO – 28 April 2017: As a pilgrim of peace, Pope Francis arrived in Cairo on Friday with an aim to foster reconciliation with the Muslim world following recent attacks against the Middle East’s biggest Christian community.

Pope Francis has brushed off security concerns to forge ahead with a two-day trip to Egypt. The visit marks the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Egypt and the Vatican.

The Pope was received at Cairo airport by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and top Christian clerics.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi received the Catholic pontiff at the presidential Ittihadya palace, giving him an official welcome, accompanied with a military band playing the national anthems of the Vatican and Egypt.