Pope Tawadros spoke at the official opening for the 6th Conference for Coptology at the Clerical College at Virgin Mary Monastery in al Qūssīyah, Asyut Governorate. Pope Tawadros encouraged tourists to come and visit this Monastery, which is the oldest Monastery in the Christian world. The Orthodox Pope called the Monastery second to Jerusalem in terms of the number of Coptic pilgrims that visit it every year. The long history of the Monastery is a source of pride for all Egyptians in Asyut, both Muslim and Christian.

The Pope further talked about the importance of history and explained how Coptic history is an extension of Pharaonic history. Both Muslims and Christians thus share a common past and this shared history should encourage peace and tolerance. Pope Tawadros spoke of a “New Egypt” in which Muslims and Copts, rich and poor, and men and women have come together (Mamdūh Thābit and Sahar Hamdānī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Feb. 6, p.4). Read original text in Arabic

(Author's note: a report of the same content came in al-Sabāh, Feb. 6, p. 4.) Read original text in Arabic