IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Just as it had been for centuries, Egypt can be a sign of hope for
those who long for peace,
Pope Francis said.
During his
weekly general audience May 3, the pope reflected on his recent visit to Egypt
and said that because of its religious and cultural heritage as well as its
role in the Middle East, Egypt has the task of promoting a lasting peace that
“rests not on the law of force but on the force of law.”
“For us, Egypt has been a sign of hope, refuge and
help. When that part of the world suffered famine, Jacob and his sons went there. Then when
Jesus was persecuted, he went there,” he said. ” Egypt, for us, is that sign of hope
both in history and for today, this brotherhood.”
The pope’s April 28-29 visit to Cairo began with a gathering
organized by Egypt’s al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam’s highest institute of learning.
The
visit to the university, he said, had the twofold purpose of promoting Christian-Muslim
dialogue and promoting peace in the world.
Peace
between Christians and Muslims in Egypt, he said, is a sign of the country’s
identity “as a land of civilization and a land of covenant.”
“For all of humanity, Egypt is synonymous with ancient
civilization, treasures of art and of knowledge, of a humanism that has, as an integral part, a
religious dimension — the relationship with God,” he said.
Christians in Egypt, the pope continued, play a pivotal role in
contributing to peace in the country and are “called to be a leaven of brotherhood,” but
that is possible only if Christians themselves are united in Christ.
The historic
agreement signed by Pope Francis and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II ending a longtime
disagreement between the churches over the sacrament of baptism “renews
the commitment” to peace and is “a strong sign of communion,” he
said.
“Together we prayed for the martyrs of the recent
attacks that tragically struck that venerable church,” Pope Francis said. “Their
blood made fruitful that ecumenical encounter, which included Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew of Constantinople, my dear brother.”
Talking
about his Mass with the country’s Catholic community and his meeting with the country’s
priests and religious men and women, Pope Francis said he encounter a “community
of men and women who have chosen to give their lives to Christ for the kingdom
of God.”
“I
have seen the beauty of the church in Egypt,” he said, “and I prayed
for all Christians in the Middle East so that, guided by their pastors and
accompanied by consecrated men and women, they may be salt and light in that
land.”
– – –
Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju.
– – –
Copyright © 2017 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
