Christians will not leave Egypt, Coptic leader vows

January 07, 2013

Pope Tawadros II, the Coptic Orthodox leader, has dismissed as “irrational” a proposal to divide Egypt’s territory to create a Coptic state.

The Coptic Church is “an integral part of that Egypt that will not be divided,” the Orthodox prelate said. He said that Copts are loyal Egyptian citizens, and the concerns that many Copts have expressed about the language of a new constitution do not reflect sectarian concerns but understandable worries about the fundamental principles of equal justice under law. As the country’s Christians celebrated Christmas, Pope Tawadros said that Christians should “not be afraid” to show their faith, despite the rise of Islamic militance.

In a related development, Egypt’s Catholic said that the new constitution “prepares the way for an Islamic caliphate.” Bishop Kyrillos William, the Coptic Catholic administrator of Alexandria, said: “We were waiting for a constitution that represents the whole of Egypt but instead we have one that only represents one group of people.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Patriarch Tawadros II: the idea to divide Egypt to create a "Coptic State " is irrational (Fides)
• Egypt’s pope in Christmas Mass urges anxious Copts to ‘not be afraid’ (AP)
• Coptic leaders say Egypt’s constitution ‘prepares the way for Islamic caliphate’ (Catholic Herald)