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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Interview Features Focus Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Message of goodwill and justice
By Nadia Abou El-Magd
When Pope John Paul II arrived in Egypt last Thursday, he announced that he had long dreamt of making this pilgrimage. But both the political symbolism of the journey and its spiritual significance soon became evident.
The Pope saying mass to a packed stadium
The 80-year-old pontiff, in his traditional white robes, looked frail as he emerged from the plane. He bent over and kissed some Egyptian soil that was presented to him on a tray by two children.
President Hosni Mubarak, welcoming the Pope at the airport, affirmed that it was necessary to "combat fanaticism, hatred and all forms of discrimination and double standards, if we aim at establishing a new world order". Mubarak told the pope that his stance on this issue bears "great value".
The president wished the Pope a happy stay in Egypt and concluded his short speech by invoking "God's blessings on us all".
In response, the Pope began his speech with the traditional Islamic greeting As-salamu alaikum (peace be upon you) and praised President Mubarak's steadfast commitment to peacemaking in the region. The Pope added that all wise men and women esteem the efforts that are being made and "hope that goodwill and justice will prevail, so that all the peoples of this unique area of the world see their rights respected and their legitimate aspirations fulfilled". This was interpreted as a reference to Palestinian rights.
The Holy See had signed an agreement with President Yasser Arafat on 15 February concerning the relations between the Vatican and the Palestinian National Authority. The two sides reiterated that any unilateral decisions or actions altering the special status of Jerusalem "are morally and legally unacceptable."
When the Pope visited Mashiakhat (the Imam's office) Al-Azhar, where the headquarters of the Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions was established during his visit, his position on the Palestinian question drew praise from the Grand Imam, Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi. The inter-faith dialogue between Al-Azhar and the Vatican was initiated in 1975 and a joint committee for this purpose was established in 1998.
The pontiff expressed his happiness at being the first pope to enter "the House of Islam and to be welcomed so warmly by the Grand Imam and the sheikhs of Al-Azhar". Tantawi had been among the Egyptian dignitaries who welcomed the Pope earlier in the day at the airport.
The Pope's first courtesy visit, following his arrival, was to the Cathedral of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Abbasiya, where hundreds had waited for hours, many brandishing miniature Vatican flags.
The Cathedral was illuminated and pictures of the pope and banners welcoming him were everywhere outside. "Pope John Paul II, we really love you," read one banner.
"I was impressed by the very tight security outside the Cathedral. It is great that they are doing all this for him," Mary Fahmi, 20, a computer institute student, told Al-Ahram Weekly.
"I've always been proud of being a Copt," said Wael Ramzi, 23, a colleague of Fahmi's, pointing to a cross tattooed on his wrist. "Today, I feel I want to tell the whole world that I'm Christian.
All roads surrounding the Cathedral were sealed off and patrolled by policemen with black sniffer dogs. The entrance to the Cathedral was fitted with a metal detector.
The Pope was welcomed at the Cathedral by Pope Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and praised as "the man of peace, statesmanship and religion who is respected by everyone".
At the cathedral, Pope Shenouda gave a large golden cross to his guest, and Pope John presented him with a bronze triptych depicting Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the flight of the holy family to Egypt.
In response to a reporter's question, Pope Shenouda averred that the Pope's visit is "spiritual and religious and has nothing to do with Egyptian internal issues".
However, Samir Morcos, Associate Secretary-General of the Council of Middle East Churches and adviser to the Coptic Centre for Social Studies, told Egyptian Television that "the [Pope's] visit is more important politically than religiously".
John and Shenouda met again in the new Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Egypt in Nasr City on Friday evening. Pope John told more than 300 religious dignitaries and worshippers that "we don't know each other sufficiently; let us therefore find ways to meet".
He renewed an offer he had first made in a 1987 encyclical that he would be willing to consider changes in the supremacy of the papacy, if this would help Christian unity. Pope Shenouda did not mention the theological differences between Catholics and Copts, but seized the moment to say that "we love our country and we love you". John Paul responded: "I wish to reciprocate by saying that we love you, too".
At the first mass celebrated by a pope of the Roman Catholic Church in Egypt on Friday, an enthusiastic crowd of some 20,000, chanted: "John Paul II, we love you." They waved scarves carrying the Pope's picture, as the pontiff entered the covered Sports Stadium at Nasr City. They bore banners, one of which read: "The new meeting between Peter and Mark [the latter is the founder of the Coptic church] gives us a new hope." Some Muslims joined the many Copts and Catholics attending, but Pope Shenouda was not present.
The mass, attended by Stephanos II, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and bishops representing different Christian sects, was recited in seven languages, including Arabic, Coptic, French, Italian and Polish, the latter being the mother tongue of the pontiff. (The number of Coptic Catholics is estimated at 200,000.)
The message which Pope John sought to convey in the mass was reconciliation with Coptic Orthodox Christians as well as Muslims.
"I pray to our heavenly Father that serene and fraternal relations, in charity and goodwill, will be developed with the Coptic Orthodox Church, which I greet here with respect," he said.
The pope expressed the hope that Catholic institutions would contribute to educating young people, upholding humane and spiritual values. He said this education should also "aim at fostering friendly relations with Muslims and that both Christians and Muslims should make sincere efforts to understand each other and together promote social justice, moral values, peace, respect and freedom".
"This is a greatest day in Egypt's history. We've waited 20 centuries for this day. It is a living example of God's presence in our land and how much he loves us," George Soliman, 40, a Catholic priest, told the Weekly.
"Words can't express what I felt when I saw him," said Sherif Zoheir, a 38-year-old engineer.
"It was a unique and spiritually overwhelming feeling. I cried while praying like I never did before in my life," chimed in his wife, Mira Lamei, 29, her eyes still swollen with tears.
Across the street, Ibrahim Mohamed Ali was entering Al-Rashdan mosque shortly before the Friday noon prayers. "It is a great thing that the Pope of peace is visiting Egypt," he said.
