Egyptian Catholic Archbishop Kirilos, Pontifical Vicar for the Vatican in Egypt, revealed the details of the two-day visit scheduled to be conducted by Vatican’s Pope Francis on April 28. He said that Francis decided to visit Egypt during the current critical period, as he carries a message of peace.
He added that the visit aims to follow the Catholic community in Egypt in addition to strengthening ecclesiastical relations between the Catholic Church on one hand and other eastern Orthodox Churches and Azhar.
He stressed that  the pope will arrive in Cairo on April 28, as his procession will turn directly to Heliopolis’ presidential palace to meet with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to discuss the issues of common interest and bilateral relations between the two countries. He added that he will visit Azhar Sheikhdom to attend the Peace conference and to deliver a speech before the attendees.
Francis is scheduled to hold a meeting with Azhar’s Grand Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb, saying that he will attend a party organized by Egypt’s Presidency to mark his visit then he will turn to St. Mark Cathedral to meet with Pope Tawadros II. During the visit to the Cathedral, he added, the pope will turn to Botrosia Church to mark the memory of victims who received martyrdom during the bombing witnessed in December 2016.
He explained that on Saturday - the second day of the visit - Pope Francis will hold a liturgy at the Air Defense stadium in Tagammou Al Khames, which can accommodate about 28 thousand citizens, and then go to the Vatican for lunch with the Patriarchs.
He added that Pope Francis' insistence on visiting Egypt after the recent terrorist attacks to encourage the Egyptians and declare his rejection of extremism. He also appreciates Egypt's pioneering role in the Arab world to combat terrorism and extremism.