Egypt: Coptic Patriarch prays for those who attack Christians

Patriarch Tawadros II

The leader of the Coptic Church in Egypt, Patriarch Tawadros II has called for prayers for those who attack churches and massacre Christians. "the Coptic Church has prayed for all," even for "the evil people" who have attacked churches and Christians, he said during an interview with the Japanese television network Asahi. He reiterated his confidence in the power of prayer, "which can change hearts."

The interview was released by Patriarch Tawadros during the Japanese visit that the Coptic Primate of the Coptic Church is carrying out in several communities of the Coptic diaspora and starting from August 30, will continue in Australia.

During his stay in Japan, Tawadros also inaugurated the Cathedral of Our Lady of St Mark in Kyoto, the first Japanese Coptic church.

In the interview with Asahi TV, the Coptic Patriarch also stated that the bond between Christians and Muslims in Egypt is strong and well-rooted, pointing out that terrorists strike Coptic Christians in order to destroy this bond and thus try to dismantle national unity. In this context - Tawadros insisted - attempts to justify terror with religious topics also call into question all subjects engaged in religious education, who must prove worthy of their task and not allow alibi to fanaticism and intolerance.

With regards to ties with other Churches and Christian communities, the Primate of the Coptic Church emphasized that, apart from differences, all Christians are united by faith in Christ, the Gospel, and to share together "the expectation of the Kingdom of Heaven."

In Egypt, Church authorities say that they are not organizing pilgrimages, school camps for young people, or crowded spiritual meetings, at the present time, on the advice of the police and civilian authorities for security reasons, after the series of targeted attacks by jihadists against Coptic Christians.

Some religious houses have voiced their willingness to reopen to visitors and pilgrims, but the Church authorities continue to advise caution.