2021 Day of Friendship between Copts and Catholics

17 May 2021

On the Day of Friendship between Copts and Catholics, which is celebrated yearly on 10 May commemorating the historical encounter between Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III on 10 May 1973, Pope Francis sent a letter to Pope Tawadros II expressing joy for the spiritual bonds existing between the see of Saint Peter and that of Saint Mark.

For the occasion, Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the PCPCU, accompanied by Reverend Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, attended the Coptic Orthodox Church of Saint George in Rome on 16 May 2021, taking part in the liturgy presided over by His Excellency Barnaba El Soryani, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Italy. In his address Bishop Farrell extended an invitation to strengthen the friendship between Copts and Catholics within the friendship with Christ himself.

Among the many guests were Bishop Rafic Warcha, Rector of the Pontifical Maronite College, and His Excellency Mr Hisham Mohamed Moustafa Badr, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Italy.