A visit by Pope Francis will not solve the problems plaguing Egypt’s Christians
“SHOW me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” So said Manuel II Palaiologos, a Byzantine emperor, of Islam’s founder. Some six centuries later, in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI used the quotation in a speech about reason and religion. The Muslim world was not pleased.
Jorge Bergoglio, then a cardinal in Argentina, criticised Benedict’s comments. In 2013, when Father Bergoglio succeeded Pope Benedict, taking the name of Francis, he immediately called for more interfaith dialogue. Two weeks later, when the new pope washed the feet of prisoners in Rome, a Christian ritual, he included two Muslims. In 2014 he toured Jordan, Israel and Palestine, further mending the Vatican’s relations with Islam.
Pope Francis hopes to continue improving relations between Christians and Muslims when he visits Cairo on April 28th-29th, the first such trip since Pope John Paul II visited Egypt in 2000. He will meet Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt’s president, and Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of al-Azhar, the Muslim world’s oldest seat of learning. (Pope Francis has previously hosted both men at the Vatican.) But easing the plight of Egypt’s Christians, known as Copts, will require a much greater effort. The task of keeping them physically safe is beyond the pontiff’s powers.
The pope’s visit comes amid a wave of violence against the Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s population. Earlier this month, on Palm Sunday, terrorists bombed two Coptic churches, in Tanta and Alexandria, killing 47 people and injuring dozens more. The attack was claimed by Islamic State (IS), which has also targeted Copts in Sinai, forcing hundreds of them to flee. In December the group bombed a chapel next to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, killing 24 people.
Pope Benedict’s forceful criticism of violence against Christians in the Middle East, and Egypt specifically, in 2011 led to a breakdown in relations between the Vatican and al-Azhar, which accused him of interfering in Egypt’s affairs. But since then, Egyptian political and religious leaders have done little to improve the life of Copts. Sectarian violence is common. Though each big attack is followed by calls for unity, and Mr Sisi, a devout Muslim, has made friendly gestures, discrimination against Copts remains rooted in society—and the law.
It is, for example, much harder to build a church than a mosque in Egypt, even though dozens of churches have been damaged or destroyed by Muslims in recent years. A new law, passed in 2016, ostensibly makes the process easier, but church leaders believe officials will continue to put up obstacles. Copts are often treated like second-class citizens. They complain of a lack of protection from the police and are pressed to resolve disputes with Muslims through “reconciliation committees”, which favour Muslims.
Pope Francis may hear of some of these complaints when he meets with Pope Tawadros, the head of the Coptic church, at the cathedral in Cairo. The two leaders will also visit the chapel bombed by IS in December. In response to the violence, Pope Francis has insisted that Islam is a religion of peace. He refused to cancel his trip and is making a point of not using a bullet-proof car while in Cairo. But in the past he has also lamented the “genocide” against Christians in the region.
Some commentators have criticised the pope for lending legitimacy to Mr Sisi’s authoritarian rule, which is also supported by Pope Tawadros. Most Copts think his visit will do little more than boost their morale. Some 25,000 people are expected to attend a mass led by Pope Francis on April 29th. At least during the event, Egypt’s Christians may feel truly welcome.
Jorge Bergoglio, then a cardinal in Argentina, criticised Benedict’s comments. In 2013, when Father Bergoglio succeeded Pope Benedict, taking the name of Francis, he immediately called for more interfaith dialogue. Two weeks later, when the new pope washed the feet of prisoners in Rome, a Christian ritual, he included two Muslims. In 2014 he toured Jordan, Israel and Palestine, further mending the Vatican’s relations with Islam.
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The pope’s visit comes amid a wave of violence against the Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s population. Earlier this month, on Palm Sunday, terrorists bombed two Coptic churches, in Tanta and Alexandria, killing 47 people and injuring dozens more. The attack was claimed by Islamic State (IS), which has also targeted Copts in Sinai, forcing hundreds of them to flee. In December the group bombed a chapel next to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, killing 24 people.
Pope Benedict’s forceful criticism of violence against Christians in the Middle East, and Egypt specifically, in 2011 led to a breakdown in relations between the Vatican and al-Azhar, which accused him of interfering in Egypt’s affairs. But since then, Egyptian political and religious leaders have done little to improve the life of Copts. Sectarian violence is common. Though each big attack is followed by calls for unity, and Mr Sisi, a devout Muslim, has made friendly gestures, discrimination against Copts remains rooted in society—and the law.
It is, for example, much harder to build a church than a mosque in Egypt, even though dozens of churches have been damaged or destroyed by Muslims in recent years. A new law, passed in 2016, ostensibly makes the process easier, but church leaders believe officials will continue to put up obstacles. Copts are often treated like second-class citizens. They complain of a lack of protection from the police and are pressed to resolve disputes with Muslims through “reconciliation committees”, which favour Muslims.
Pope Francis may hear of some of these complaints when he meets with Pope Tawadros, the head of the Coptic church, at the cathedral in Cairo. The two leaders will also visit the chapel bombed by IS in December. In response to the violence, Pope Francis has insisted that Islam is a religion of peace. He refused to cancel his trip and is making a point of not using a bullet-proof car while in Cairo. But in the past he has also lamented the “genocide” against Christians in the region.
Some commentators have criticised the pope for lending legitimacy to Mr Sisi’s authoritarian rule, which is also supported by Pope Tawadros. Most Copts think his visit will do little more than boost their morale. Some 25,000 people are expected to attend a mass led by Pope Francis on April 29th. At least during the event, Egypt’s Christians may feel truly welcome.
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