His Holiness Pope Tawadros II Receives the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, with a Delegation from the Council
Words Stressing the Necessity of Strengthening the Christian Presence in the Region
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Cairo, 3/14/2024
Over the course of an hour and a half, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and the Council delegation, at the Papal Residence - Abbasiya - Cairo.
The meeting was attended by His Eminence Bishop Anba Antonios Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox Church, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Eastern Orthodox Family, Father Antonios Baki, Priest of America and Secretary of His Holiness the Pope, Father Monk Cyril Anba Bishoy, Secretary of His Holiness the Pope, Mr. Joseph, Secretary of His Holiness the Pope, the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gergis Saleh, the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches in Egypt Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Coordinator of Communication for Church Relations Lea Adel Maamary.
First, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs thanked His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for his great fatherly reception that reflects great love, conveying to His Holiness the love of the MECC Presidents and MECC team.
Then he presented, and in details, to His Holiness the Council’s activities and all the preparations for the Fiftieth Year of the MECC founding, which will include lectures, seminars, and conferences.
After that, the two parties discussed some other issues, including preparing an important activity in Egypt. They chose two main dates, either on the first of June, on the Feast of the entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, or on the ninth of September, on the beginning of the Coptic New Year. The two matters will be discussed with the aim of making the appropriate decision and starting the preparations.
As well as, the attendees discussed the idea of reactivating the Middle East Council of Churches Office in Egypt and its activities.
For his part, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II praised the work of the Middle East Council of Churches and expressed his readiness to assist in everything the Council needs for the good of the Church and its people.
The attendees also talked about the conditions that the region is passing through, the challenges surrounding the Church today, and ways to avoid them, including the fact of reducing immigration and strengthening the Christian presence.
Everyone hoped that the East and the world would have peace and tranquility and that the drums of war would stop and be replaced by the seeds of peace.
Dr. Michel Abs offered to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II the book of the Monasteries of the See of Antioch.
In turn, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II offered Dr. Michel Abs and the Council delegation a book about the history of one hundred Coptic figures.
