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The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan T.D. met with the head of the Egyptian Coptic Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark today (Thursday).

Following the meeting Minister Flanagan said:

“I was glad to have the opportunity to meet with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II today, and to personally convey my condolences on the terrible loss of life following the attacks on two Coptic churches in Northern Egypt last month. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are.

Ireland consistently raises the issues of racism, intolerance and religious and ethnic-based violence and advocates for inclusive societies in our bilateral relations and in international fora.

ISIS’ attacks on Christians and others are an unacceptable affront to humanity and I condemn them unreservedly.

I also welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the growing Coptic community here in Ireland.”

During his visit to Ireland His Holiness will also meet with President Higgins and the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, as well as Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. He will also visit a number of Coptic churches and monasteries in Ireland.

Notes to editor

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Pope of the See of St. Mark on November 19th, 2012 six months after the death of his predecessor Pope Shenouda III. He is the main interlocutor between the Coptic Church and the Egyptian State.

Copts constitute the largest Christian community in the Middle East and North Africa region. In recent years the community has been the target of violent attacks, many of them perpetrated by ISIS-linked groups. Most recently ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks on two Coptic Churches that killed almost 50 people attending Palm Sunday services in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria in Northern Egypt on 9 April 2017. In December 2016 a bombing at Egypt’s main Coptic Christian cathedral in Cairo claimed by ISIS killed 30 people and injured dozens during Sunday Mass. Minister Flanagan’s statements on these atrocities are available on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/

Following his meeting with Minister Flanagan, His Holiness will pay a courtesy call on President Higgins and will meet with the Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD as well as Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. He will then depart Dublin to visit some of the Coptic churches and monasteries in Ireland. His Holiness’ travels will take him to Co. Wicklow, Co. Westmeath, Co. Waterford and Co. Tipperary, in addition to Dublin.