April 29, 2017
The Pope is in Egypt on a trip designed to forge Muslim-Christian brotherhood and show solidarity with the country's persecuted Coptic Christian minority.
His visit to the North African country comes nearly two weeks after the Palm Sunday bombing of two Coptic churches, which left at least 45 people dead.
Pope Francis is surrounded by security at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo.
Heavy security surrounded the Pope as he entered Cairo's Air Defense Stadium in an open golf cart.
He waved at worshipers and stopped momentarily to bless a group of children in costume. Parts of the stadium stands were draped with the Pope's photo as well as Egyptian and Vatican flags.
The Pope said "religiosity means nothing unless it is inspired by deep faith and charity."
"True faith is one that makes us more charitable, more merciful, more honest and more humane," he said.
"God is pleased only by a faith that is proclaimed by our lives, for the only fanaticism believers can have is that of charity! Any other fanaticism does not come from God and is not pleasing to him," he added.
The Pope started his Mass with the "As-Salaam Alaikum," the traditional Muslim greeting in Arabic that means "Peace be upon you," and ended it with "al-Masih qam! Bi-l-haqiqa qam! (Christ is risen! He is truly risen)".
A Vatican spokesman said 15,000 people attended the mass at the stadium, which holds 30,000.
The Pope is expected to visit Egypt's small Catholic community later Saturday.
'Incompatibility of violence and faith'
On Friday, Francis stressed the importance of unity between Muslims and Christians to shape world peace.
Photos: Pope Francis visits Egypt
An Egyptian army vehicle is stationed outside of St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in central Cairo. The Pope's visit comes nearly three weeks after the Palm Sunday bombing of two Coptic churches, brazen strikes that left at least 45 people dead.
Hide Caption
5 of 9
Photos: Pope Francis visits Egypt
Pope Francis disembarks from his plane after arriving in Cairo.
Hide Caption
6 of 9
Photos: Pope Francis visits Egypt
A billboard features Pope Francis above a Cairo street.
Hide Caption
7 of 9
Photos: Pope Francis visits Egypt
The Pope greets journalists on the airplane en route to Egypt.
Hide Caption
8 of 9
Photos: Pope Francis visits Egypt
Francis shakes hands with Alitalia crew members before departing Rome on April 28.
Hide Caption
9 of 9
Photos: Pope Francis visits Egypt
Pope Francis greets Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of the Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo on Friday, April 28. The Pope is on a two-day trip to Egypt to forge Muslim-Christian brotherhood and show solidarity with the country's persecuted Coptic Christian minority.
z cheka.blogspot.com
ABOUT BLOGGER INJILI HALISI MINISTRY
Hi! I am Zachary John Bequeker, from Mwanza Tanzania, East Africa.I'm a blogger of ZAKACHEKA NEWS LINE And ZAKKACHEKA INJILI.Contact me +255 625966236 / +255 758590489 or mail on zacharybequeker@gmail.com . Thanks!!!
0 Post a Comment:
Post a Comment