Pope Tawāḍrūs II of the Coptic Orthodox Church has spoken on the current status of Copts in Egypt whilst welcoming a French delegation of politicians, journalists, and writers. When asked whether Copts were persecuted in Egypt, Pope Tawāḍrūs II explained that this was not the case under President al-Sīsī’s government, as made clear through several legal developments affording them more rights, as well as the increasing Coptic presence in the Egyptian parliament. The patriarch emphasized that Egypt was a country based on unity despite religious differences.