Pope Tawadros’s II flew to Venice on 4 May, for a pastoral and official visit the lasted for five days.
Venice was the third stop on the Pope’s four-country tour that saw him fly from Cairo to Istanbul on the evening of 25 April, where a packed schedule kept him busy till 27 April.
Pope Tawadros on visit to Istanbul – Watani
He then flew to Vienna for a seven-day visit, from which he flew to Venice on 4 May. On the evening of 9 May, Pope Tawadros left Venice by car for the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
Pope Tawadros in Vienna – Watani
The Pope’s activities included meetings with officials and Church leaders in the four countries. He also participated in the conference of Coptic Orthodox dioceses in the Diaspora, and took part in a gathering of young Copts from a number of countries in Europe.
Accompanying Pope Tawadros are Anba Danial, Metropolitan of Maadi; Anba Thomas, Metropolitan of Qoussiya and Meir; Anba Angaelos, Bishop of London; Fr Emmanuel al-Muharrqi, manager of the Papal Office; and Fr Mark Asaad, priest of the Coptic Church in Turkey.
Pope inaugurates Conference of Dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe, America, and Australia
In Venice, the Pope inaugurated on 5 May the Conference of the Dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe, America, and Australia. The conference was held at the Coptic Cathedral of St Mark the Apostle in Venice, which also acts as the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Europe.
The conference, which ran till 9 May, was attended by 30 metropolitans and bishops, including members of the Secretariat of the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod. A number of Coptic Diaspora bishops, however, were unable to attend due to health reasons.
In his opening address, Pope Tawadros spoke of the pastoral and spiritual role of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the Diaspora, highlighting its commitment to preserving the Orthodox faith and maintaining the strong connection of its members with the Mother Church. He emphasised the focus on pastoral care, ecclesiastical education, and the service of new generations in diverse societies.
The Pope stressed the importance of integration and cooperation among Coptic dioceses abroad, working in a spirit of love and unity, thereby presenting a living image of the Church and its spiritual and humane mission across the world.
A documentary on the history of the Coptic Church in the Diaspora was screened.
Sessions of the Conference of the Dioceses of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Europe, America, and Australia were held in two morning sessions a day, the outcome and recommendations of which were discussed with all the participants during an evening session.
The conference discussed the forecasted future of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the Diaspora through to 2050. Its agenda focused on the topics of connection with the Mother Church, ministry and pastoral care, monasticism, consecration, theological institutes, and ecumenical relations.
Pope meets with Milan priests and wives
Pope Tawadros II held a meeting with the priests of the Diocese of Milan, at the Coptic Cathedral of St Mark in Venice.
He checked on their pastoral ministry and spoke with them about the light of the Resurrection noting that it endows a person with cheerfulness, compassionate speech, wise outlook, positivity in action, and purity of heart
The Pope also held a gathering with the priests’ wives, during which he inquired about their well-being and delivered spiritual message of encouragement to them.
Feast of St Mark
On 8 May, Pope Tawadros marked the Feast of St Mark, the apostle who brought Christianity to Egypt, founded her Church, and was martyred in Alexandria in 68AD, by celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St Mark the Apostle in Venice.
Pope celebrates Feast of St Mark in Venice – Watani
Noteworthy is that Pope Tawadros had inaugurated, in October 2023 the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Europe in Venice—the city that holds the relics of St Mark the Apostle, the Evangelist of Egypt. The cathedral, named after St Mark, was consecrated the day following the inauguration. The headquarters is overseen by Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of Central Europe.
Visit with Cardinal Francesco Moraglia
While in Venice, Pope Tawadros II visited Cardinal Francesco Moraglia, Patriarch of Venice of the Catholic Church.
The meeting was marked by warmth and mutual affection, with both sides recalling memories of previous encounters between the Pope and the Cardinal.
The Patriarch of Venice welcomed Pope Tawadros II and the delegation accompanying him, noting that the visit coincides with the celebration of the 1200th anniversary of the arrival to Venice of the relics Apostle St Mark, the saint shared by both Churches. He referred to the testimony proclaimed by the centurion in the Gospel of Mark, that Christ is the Son of God (Mark 15:39), describing it as a common witness and a commitment entrusted to all Christians.
Cardinal Moraglia pointed out that the hall hosting the meeting is adorned with an image of Saint Catherine the Coptic, daughter of Alexandria, an image carrying profound meanings of faith, witness, suffering, and martyrdom. He noted that the strong emphasis on the history of Christian martyrs is a theme especially close to the Coptic Church, which throughout the centuries has been characterised by undergoing persecution while witness to the faith.
For his part, Pope Tawadros expressed great joy at being in Venice and praying the Divine Liturgy in an altar that stood above the relics of St Mark, noting that this is the first time such a large number of Coptic bishops have gathered outside Egypt and prayed together at the altar of St Mark in Venice.
He spoke about the Coptic Orthodox Church as a Church distinguished by martyrdom, referring especially to the 21 modern-day martyrs who witnessed to Christ by offering Him their lives in Libya in 2015, who the Church commemorates annually on 15 February 15. He also noted that Libya is the land from which St Mark came to Egypt.
The Pope reviewed the historical and spiritual roots of Christianity in Egypt, describing Egypt as “a land of great civilisation, culture, and faith.” He referred to St Anthony the Great, the father of Christian monasticism, and the significance of the Monastery of St Anthony in the Red Sea Desert, which remains inhabited by monks to this day. He affirmed: “Ecclesiastical life in Egypt is always alive.”
In conclusion, he invited Cardinal Francesco Moraglia to visit Egypt and the holy places trodden by the Holy Family in its biblical flight into Egypt.
In a notable expression of love and esteem, the Patriarch asked Pope Tawadros to bless him.
