Katalin Novák will also meet with the Coptic Pope Tawadros II.Continue reading
President Katalin Novák has met Coptic Pope Tavadros II in Cairo on Tuesday during her official visit to Egypt, reported MTI. The Hungarian President is expected to hold talks with Pope Francis in Dubai on Saturday after her address at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).
President Katalin Novák (C left) with Coptic Pope Tavadros II. Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi
Katalin Novák stressed that we are proud that the Hungarian state was founded on Christian foundations a thousand years ago, and that Christianity is still a dominant feature of our everyday life and celebrations.
Christianity is what holds the whole of Europe together, and when we talk about the need for diversity in Europe, we must understand this within Christianity,
she said.
She added that Europe is colorful enough simply because the peoples of Europe are different. “We have different histories, customs, cultures, languages, but we are united by our common roots and our common Christian culture.”
President Katalin Novák (C) with Coptic Pope Tavadros II. Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi
“In Egypt, we can also admire and experience what it is like when Muslims and Christians can live side by side in peace,” said Katalin Novák, adding that she wished they could preserve all this. She also said she appreciated the efforts of Coptic Pope Tavadros II to promote dialogue and coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
The faith of Egypt’s Christians is deeply moving: they returned to pray for peace to the church just the day after islamist terrorists attacked it back in 2016. During my visit to Saint Mark Church in Cairo, I was pleased to meet with the two survivors who had been rehabilitated… pic.twitter.com/h28JTf38UX
— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovak_HU) November 28, 2023
Stressing the importance of families, she said that Egypt is ten times the size and population of Hungary. The average family in Egypt has three children, while in Hungary there are fewer than two. The president added that she would like to understand how to encourage young Hungarians to have children and start a family.
Photo: MTI/Bruzák Noémi
On the issue of helping persecuted Christians, she maintained that in Hungary we all feel responsible for our Christian brothers and sisters wherever they live in the world. We have also helped Coptic Christians on many occasions in the past and they can always count on us in the future, Katalin Novák stressed.
Your Holiness, @PopeTawadros it was an honor to meet you again. We are united by our common Christian roots, by protecting freedom of religion and family values, and by standing up against the persecution of Christians. pic.twitter.com/bv15YHDgZ1
— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovak_HU) November 28, 2023
Katalin Novák also met the two Egyptian Coptic women who were seriously injured in the terrorist attack in Cairo on December 11, 2016 at the site of the attack, at St Mark’s Church. The two injured women thanked the Hungarians for the care and assistance they received during their rehabilitation in Budapest.
In her social media post the President also wrote that the faith of Egypt’s Christians is deeply moving: they returned to pray for peace to the church just a day after Islamist terrorists attacked it back in 2016. “During my visit to Saint Mark Church in Cairo, I was pleased to meet with the two survivors who had been rehabilitated in Budapest following that horrific terrorist attack.”
Afterwards, Katalin Novák travelled to Giza on a Hungarian-made train set manufactured at the Dunakeszi Vehicle Repair Plant.
Via MTI; Featured Image: MTI/Bruzák Noémi