
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet Pope Francis on Monday, Holy See spokesman Federico Lombardi said, in the first visit to the Vatican by an Egyptian leader in eight years.
The afternoon meeting comes six months after Sisi's rise to power. According to religious news agency I.Media he will be accompanied by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Choukri and three other ministers.
Sisi will then meet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Rome at 1800 GMT, Renzi's office said.
Sisi, who led the coup last year that ousted elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, hopes to strengthen Egypt's ties with the Holy See, according to diplomatic sources cited by religious news agency I.Media.
The talks are likely to address the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and Sunni Islam's main theological centre, the famed Al-Azhar University which fell out with the Vatican in 2011.
Al-Azhar broke off relations after Francis's predecessor Benedict XVI said not enough was being done to prevent the persecution of Christians in remarks perceived by some to be offensive to Islam.
Christians, mostly Orthodox Copts, make up some 10 percent of Egypt's 86 million population.
Sectarian violence during Morsi's government saw some of the community emigrate after a series of attacks on churches.
Source: AFP
GMT 12:28 2018 Friday ,31 August
Algeria, reaffirm support to Sahrawi and Palestinian peoplesGMT 11:54 2018 Friday ,31 August
Second mine explodes in Mghilla 'Four soldiers wounded'GMT 11:30 2018 Friday ,31 August
UNSMIL condemns escalation of Violence in Great Tripoli areaGMT 11:15 2018 Friday ,31 August
Morocco, U.S Committed to Fighting Terrorism 'US Official'GMT 16:27 2018 Thursday ,30 August
PPS Considers Withdrawing from Ruling Coalition amid Tension with PJDGMT 15:34 2018 Thursday ,30 August
3 Bunkers, 4 homemade bombs discovered, destroyed in SkikdaGMT 15:10 2018 Thursday ,30 August
AU's Decision to Support UN-led Process, 'Big Win" for MoroccoGMT 12:47 2018 Thursday ,30 August
Cuba backed Polisario by providing military aid to Algeria
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor