Sisi, Coptic Catholic Church patriarch talk religious coexistence

CAIRO - 29 November 2019: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday received on Thursday received Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt Ibrahim Ishaq Sedrak, and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Charge d'Affaires of the Vatican Embassy in Cairo, the Presidency said.

During the meeting, President Sisi stressed the state's keenness to coordinate with all inveterate religious institutions to raise public awareness of the challenges facing the countries of the region, which threaten its security and stability, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

He also highlighted the role played by religious leaders in educating citizens, especially youth, to preserve the national identity and consolidate the principle of citizenship without any discrimination.

He also hailed their efforts to denounce destructive ideas that call for undermining the state, pointing in this regard to the importance of communication and coordination between all Egyptian religious institutions and their leaders in this regard.

The president affirmed the state's appreciation of the good relations with all Egyptian and international religious leaders, especially in light of the current approach of the State in establishing the values of coexistence and freedom of worship.

For his part, Patriarch Sedrak praised the state's efforts that aimed at bringing rapprochement, coexistence and understanding between the people of all religions, noting that Egypt's recent inauguration of the Cathedral of tha Nativity in the New Administrative Capital, along with Al-Fatah Al-Alim Mosque was a symbolic step, and a message of love and peace for the whole world.

The patriarch said that this step reflected a real political will of the Egyptian state to consolidate the concepts of citizenship, acceptance of the other and coexistence among all Egyptians.

The meeting discussed the international challenges including the growing activity of extremist groups and the consequent expansion of the threat of terrorism in many countries.