The trip to Egypt outlined

At 1:00pm today (local time) in the John Paul II Hall at the Holy See Press Centre, the Director of the Centre, Mister Greg Burke held a briefing to outline the programme for the Apostolic Voyage which His Holiness, Pope Francis will undertake to Egypt from 28 to 29 April 2017.

Briefing held by Mister Greg Burke

Director of the Holy See Press Centre

Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to Egypt, which will take place later this week, has three dimensions.  Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Centre explained these aspects during the Briefing he held with journalists yesterday:

• First, there is a pastoral dimension to the trip: the Holy Father will spend time with the Catholic community in Egypt, which is very small;
• Second, there is an ecumenical dimension: Pope Francis will meet with Orthodox Coptic Christians; and
• Third, there is an inter-religious dimension: His Holiness will meet with the majority Muslim community.

This is the 18th Apostolic Journey for Pope Francis outside of Italy, and the 27th country that he has visited.  His Holiness is the second Pope to visit Egypt - after the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II in the Jubilee Year 2000.

This visit was initiated by an invitation which was issued by the President of the North-African nation, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi; by the great Imam of al-Azhar University, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed al-Tayeb; by the Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and by the Catholic bishops of that nation.

Concerning the issue of security, Mister Burke pointed to the security measures that were put into place for the London Marathon which was run this past Sunday (April 23, 2017).  We are in a globalized world, he said, security measures are high everywhere.  He did not use the word concern, but explained, We live in a world in which the danger of attacks is part of life.  The security measures that have been put into place are the same as those which have been enacted for the numerous other voyages undertaken by the Pope.  His Holiness will use a normal car, as he has always wanted.  The security detail inside the Vatican continue as normal and local authorities in Egypt insist that everything goes well.

Programme for the Apostolic Visit

The Pope will speak five times during his visit.  The first speech will take place at an international conference on peace which is taking place inside the Al-Azhar University, the second during his visit with Pope Tawadros II, the third when he addresses various Egyptian authorities, the fourth during the Mass which His Holiness will celebrate with Catholics, and the final one during his visit with clergy and consecrated men and women.

It is unknown at this time whether Pope Francis will hold a question and answer session or whether he will hear confessions during his meeting with the clergy.  Mister Burke merely stated that the Pope is often spontaneous at these kinds of encounters, however as of now, he is expected to deliver his address.

The Pope will be accompanied on this journey by:

• Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State;
• Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches;
• Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity; and
• Archbishop Bruno Musaró, Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt.

The Holy Father's interpreter will be his private secretary, Monsignor Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, a Coptic Catholic priest of the Patriarchate of Alexandria who is an official in the Secretariat of State.

Egypt has a total population of 90 million, approximately 85% of whom are Muslim.  About 10% of the population are Orthodox Coptic Christians and the Catholics (Coptic, Latin, Armenian, Melkite, Maronite, Syro-Catholic ...) make up less than 1% of the population.  Their bishops are part of the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy which is presided over by the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak.

On Friday, April 28

The Holy Father will arrive in Cairo and will be welcomed at an official ceremony which will take place at the Presidential palace of Heliopolis.  There will be a courtesy visit paid to the President of the Republic and then Pope Francis will visit with the Great Imam of Al-Azhar.

Within the walls of the Al-Azhar University, the Pope will participate in an international peace conference.  There will be a speech by the Great Imam and this will be followed by Pope Francis' speech.  The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will accompany Pope Francis at this time.

Pope Francis will then meet with the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II.  After the two speeches, they will pray together in the Church of Saint Peter for the victims of recent anti-Christian attacks.

Pope Francis will then go to the Apostolic Nunciature for the night.  He will greet children and a group of young people from all over the country before he has dinner. He may give greetings from his balcony, but this has yet to be seen.

On Saturday, April 29

The second day will begin with a Mass which the Holy Father will celebrate with Catholics at the military aeronautics stadium. Although it takes place in the morning, it liturgically will count as Sunday Mass.

The Pope is expected to greet the crowds by circling the stadium in an electric car. At the end of the Mass, the Catholic Coptic Patriarch, Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak, will address the Pope.

His Holiness will then have lunch with the Egyptian Catholic bishops and his entourage.

In the afternoon, the Pope will meet with the clergy and with consecrated men and women for a time of prayer. The Pope will bless the habits of those who will be consecrated in the near future.

The Pope will then go to the airport to return to Rome.