Pope Francis’s Visit to Egypt Defies All Critics

After the deadly attacks that targeted 2 Coptic churches during Palm Sunday in the heart of Cairo leaving 44 dead and more than 100 injured, most Egyptians thought the visit of his Holiness Pope Francis to Egypt would be cancelled, but he declared that the attacks will not make him cancel the visit. This great gesture however did not appeal to many critics.

Everything related to the Pope’s visit to Egypt faced a lot of criticism. To begin with, the logo of the visit was under attack. The ultra-conservative Catholic blog “Novus Ordo Watch” blasted the Vatican over the logo of the trip, which displayed the Muslim crescent and the cross together, and calling pope "Mr. Coexist"! Am not sure how “coexisting” is something to be ridiculed for!

The security measures Egypt has taken in preparation for the visit was also criticized, with one describing it as “demonstration of the power of Egypt’s army”! It is true Pope Francis declared he will not be riding his armored vehicle, but that doesn’t mean any laxity from Cairo’s side in securing this historic visit is acceptable nor forgiven. Securing visits of important figures is done in every country all over the world, and it became a must after the series of terror attacks that hit many capitals, so why should this become a different story when it comes to Egypt?

The cause of the visit itself was not immune from attacks. Most critics cited the terrorist attacks that recently hit Egypt as the primary reason the Pontiff should not visiting the country, considering it dangerous! It is as if no other country in the world was and is suffering from terror attacks other than Egypt. We have seen innocent people losing their lives in US and Europe because of coward terror attacks, but we have not seen any critic asking people not to visit these countries in the aftermath of these attacks. Thing is, Egypt’s attacks made the visit more important now than ever, and that’s what Pope Francis knew very well.

Isis carried out this heinous crime not only to threaten Christian Egyptians, but it was a message to scare all Egyptians. Terrorist organizations like Isis recruit naïve people by brainwashing their heads with poisonous thoughts that they should be “protecting” Islam and Muslims against Christians who want to exterminate them. The pope’s visit came to defy this twisted logic. The head of the Catholic church in the world decided to visit Egypt, the heart of moderate Islam, in such a difficult timing for the whole nation. He began his video message to Egyptians with “Alsalamo Alekom”, which is the greetings of Muslims and it means “Peace be upon you” and ended it with “Tahya Masr, which means “Long Live Egypt”. He met Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, the world's most influential centre of Sunni Islamic theology and learning, and asked for unity of leaders of all faiths in renouncing religious extremism. He made an emphasis on education by drawing attention to Egypt’s ancient civilization that valued open-minded education. He even cited an Egyptian nationalist slogan used during the 23 July 1952 Revolution: “religion belongs to God and the nation to all.”

The Pope filled the hearts of many Egyptian Christians with joy when he held an open-air Mass for about 15,000 worshipers in Air Defense Stadium. He attended a service at Saint Peter church where 29 people died in a suicide bombing in December. His visit also culminated in signing a historic agreement with Pope Tawadros II that will make the Roman Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church recognize the baptisms conducted by each other. Previously, any person who wished to join another church would have to repeat their baptism in their new church.

Pope Francis proved to be a true man of peace. His visit to Egypt was full of positive signs and it represented a victory on different fronts, not only on the front of mending ties with the Muslim world – especially that it suffered tensions during Benedict years - but also on the front of ecumenism. He sent a message of hope and peace to Muslims and Christians alike..a message that is truly needed by all Egyptians.