Pope Tawadros receives children from orphanages and shelters

Pope Tawadros II has received a group of children from Cairo orphanages and shelters run by the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The visit was part of a Ministry programme to enhance integration of the children in the wider community, and to root in them values of belonging and loyalty to foster positive attitudes and behaviour.

The Ministry’s programme includes visits to Egyptian institutions and places of interest. Before the recent visit to St Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassiya, Cairo, during which they met Pope Tawadros, the children had visited the Egyptian Air Force Museum, described in Trip Advisor as “an amazing experience for kids and adults” and rated “Excellent”; the Panorama 6 October; and the Sheikhdom of al-Azhar.

General Heba Abul-Amayem of the Social Solidarity Ministry led the children in their audience with the Pope. With a broad smile on her face, she encouraged them to put their questions to the Pope who, with his famous capacity to interact with children, quickly put them at ease. His landmark good humour and love came in clearly as he talked to them on tolerance and shared existence. He concluded by handing them souvenir gifts and taking a group photograph with them.

The children were guided through a tour of St Mark’s Cathedral and the adjacent church of St Peter and St Paul, better known as Boutrossiya Church. Boutrossiya was the scene of an infamous suicide bombing during Sunday Mass on 11 December 2016, in which 27 Copts lost their lives. The church has since then risen from the ashes, being completely restored by the Egyptian Armed Forces.