Visit of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity

On Thursday 11 May, following his meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, accompanied by his delegation, visited the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU) where he was received by Cardinal Koch and the entire staff.

In his welcoming address, the Cardinal Prefect introduced each of the collaborators of the Dicastery and spoke about the work of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, whose plenary sessions take place every two years at the Dicastery. Cardinal Koch also mentioned the new book in the series “Ut Unum Sint”, on the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church.

In his response, His Holiness Tawadros II thanked him for the book, which will be translated into Arabic, and expressed his "deep respect and gratitude" to the DPCU for its work, considering it necessary "to learn from each other through the exchange of experiences and the exchange of visits of priests and monks, as has already taken place with a group of priests from the Oriental Churches at the invitation of the Vatican”. Furthermore, Pope Tawadros II continued, the contribution of scholars, monasteries, historians of the two Churches must also be taken into consideration, "paying particular interest to the saints and martyrs, who represent bridges between East and West. It will be good to strengthen the Day of Fraternal Friendship by promoting it at the level of the faithful".

At the end of this exchange, His Holiness had a private meeting with Cardinal Koch, after which a meeting with journalists was then held in the offices of the Dicastery.

On Friday, 12 May, His Holiness Tawadros II and his delegation were received at the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches and at the General Secretariat of the Synod.