The Islamic State and other Islamists have carried out a series of attacks on Egypt's Christians in recent years, including the beheading of 20 Coptic Orthodox faithful in Libya in 2015, and a series of church bombings.
However, in his speech Pope Francis noted that the "impressive history of holiness" in Egypt isn't limited to the witness of the martyrs, because "no sooner had the ancient persecutions ended than a new and selfless form of life arose as a gift of the Lord: monasticism originated in the desert."
"Thus, the great signs that God had once worked in Egypt and at the Red Sea were followed by the miracle of a new life that made the desert blossom with sanctity," he said, explaining that given this shared patrimony, he comes to Egypt "as a pilgrim."
Francis noted that while the two Churches haven't always gotten along given both theological and non-theological differences, their 1973 joint declaration, signed by Blessed Paul VI and Patriarch Shenouda III, allowed them, "with God's help, to acknowledge together that Christ is perfect God with respect to his divinity and perfect man with respect to his humanity."
Equally important and timely, he said, "are the words that immediately precede this statement, in which we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and God and Savior and King."
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The strengthening of this bond between their Churches, Francis said, means they can no longer move forward with the idea that each can go their own way, because this would "betray" Christ's prayer that his disciples "all be one."
While the journey isn't always easy, the Lord exhorts them to persevere, he said, explaining that "we are not alone. We are accompanied by a great host of saints and martyrs who, already fully one, impel us here below to be a living image of the Jerusalem above."
Quoting the Gospel of St. Mark, founder of the See of Alexandria, Pope Francis pointed out Christ's question to St. Peter: "who do you say that I am?"
Even today "many people cannot answer this question," Francis said, noting that "there are even few people who can raise it, and above all few who can answer it with the joy of knowing Jesus, that same joy with which we have the grace of confessing him together."
Because of this, Coptic Orthodox and Catholics are called to bear witness to Christ together and "to carry our faith to the world, especially in the way it is meant to be brought: by living it, so that Jesus' presence can be communicated with life and speak the language of gratuitous and concrete love."
As both Coptic Orthodox and Catholics, "we can always join in speaking this common language of charity," he said, explaining that before completing some charitable task, "we would do well to ask if we can do it together with our brothers and sisters who share our faith in Jesus."
"Thus, by building communion in the concreteness of a daily lived witness, the Spirit will surely open providential and unexpected paths to unity," he said, praising the patriarch for his support of the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt, particularly through his establishment of the National Council of Christian Churches.
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Francis closed his speech praying that the two of them would be able to "set out together as pilgrims of communion and messengers of peace," under the special care and guidance of Mary, the Mother of God.
At their meeting, Francis and Tawadros signed a joint declaration indicating their gratitude for the chance "to exchange a fraternal embrace and to join again in common prayer."
Notably, they declared that they "will seek sincerely not to repeat the baptism that has been administered in either of our Churches for any person who wishes to join the other. This we confess in obedience to the Holy Scriptures and the faith of the three Ecumenical Councils assembled in Nicaea, Constantinople and Ephesus."
"We ask God our Father to guide us, in the times and by the means that the Holy Spirit will choose, to full unity in the mystical Body of Christ."
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.