Peace is more important than food for the world and our lives since the bible says: Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Proverbs 17:1) Pope Tawadros in his sermon about peace said that sin makes us lose our peace, and this first happened to Adam and Eve. In the Old Testament, Cain killed Abel and lost his peace. This is the way the world loses peace ever since. Therefore, we have to seek peace in our hearts first and then our homes, churches and community.

The blood of the innocent martyrs of the Egyptian armed forces is so precious, but it is shed in Sinai by the terrorists. The soldiers are willing to sacrifice their souls for their country, but there is a big evil plan targeting them in North Sinai. They face armed militants supported by intelligence of foreign countries and organizations that have taken Sinai as the scene of their battles. The brutal terrorist attack on July 7th, 2017, that targeted our soldiers in North Sinai led to the death and injury of dozens of our brave men. There were about 150 terrorists who used guns and anti-aircraft missiles and explosives. They wore clothes similar to the Egyptian army. I wonder: how did they get all the equipments and how did they cross the border with Gaza? Where did they go after the attack?

When we hear the word Copts, we think of Egypt. Copts have a long history plagued by blood and oppression after they embraced Christianity in Egypt. The Christians in Egypt were called Copts as they belong to the land of Egypt as the word Copts means the people of Egypt. With the entry of Islam in Egypt, Christians were called Copts against Muslims. Now, they represent the largest minority in the Middle East and the largest Christian community in the region. Copts are estimated at 8 million Copts in Egypt and about 2 million Copts all over the world (most of them live in the United States). Copts had their own language which is one of the oldest.

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. These are the words of St. Paul to pave the way before a successful man as described by Pope Tawadros II in his sermon last Wednesday. God is the core of our joy since he grants us the salvation of sin. Jesus Christ is the way to this salvation, thus we should always rejoice in him who blesses our way, health, ministry, work and family. We shouldn’t allow anybody to take away such joy. He called us to become complete in our relationship with the church and its sacraments and ministry. The church is the best way to save our children from the world and fill them with the holy spirit.

I send this message to the Copts of Egypt who face at the moment the same prosecution experienced by our fathers the saints of the first church. Dear brothers, you have been baptized which means you have died with Christ, buried, and resurrected with him. “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12). Therefore, we can’t fear death since we already died with Christ and shall live with him forever. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

I know that there is still a controversy over the statements of Sheikh Salem Abdul Jalil, especially after he confirmed today on CNN that he did not apologize for saying that the Christian faith is corrupt. I suffered from depression and grief, not only because my faith was insulted, but because I cannot bear to hear more explosions of terrorist attacks against more churches. God indeed has chosen the righteous people to be His martyrs. Few years ago, I watched Professor called Ahmed Abdo Maher attacking our faith, but today he denounces hatred and sedition. Therefore, I feel God hand is working.

I was in Alexandria at the time of the terrorist bombings that targeted the Church of St. George in Tanta and St. Mark Cathedral in Alexandria on Palm Sunday. I was with my wife on our way to the Cathedral of St. Mark to deliver a letter to His Holiness Pope Tawadros in order to hold an interview with him for Fountain of Love magazine on the occasion of his visit to Australia in August. We were only a few meters away from the terrorists when we heard the sound of a loud explosion accompanied by the sound of broken glass and people screaming. The place was full of chaos as police were evacuating the area.

Many times did the media, intellectuals and clerics repeated the phrase “Terrorism has no religion”. The truth is: “Terrorism has an ideology made from wrong interpretation of religious texts. Many people claim that terrorism has no religion and forget about its religious origin that enables the terrorists to kill police men and soldiers who protect this country in addition to innocent Coptic citizens. Nowadays, terrorism all over the world decided to have certain rules and ideology. Terrorists depend on religious texts and mix them with extremism and hatred to make new religion. We are now witnessing bloody terrorism and political violence confined to a great ideology. Intellectual terrorism and bloody terrorism are two sides of one coin that is sweeping the world. Therefore, we have to search for the reasons for such phenomena.

I would like to thank Mr. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for inviting His Holiness Pope Francis of Rome to bless the land of Egypt and its people. I also thank His Holiness Pope Francis for his visit. Moreover, I would like to thank those who contributed to the success of this event, especially the organizers and the Egyptian armed forces and police. The Egyptian people have welcomed the Pope and attended the divine Liturgy. Millions of Egyptians and people around the world watched the visit and the speech of the Pope that was full of love and tolerance, calling for peace and renouncing the violence and terrorism.

I ask everyone to be careful and not to follow the rumors concerning the joint statement of Catholic and Orthodox Churches. We should trust our leaders whom cling to the right faith and shall change nothing in that account. We should also realize that we have so much in common. This joint statement of Catholic and Orthodox Churches was written carefully to express the teachings of the holy bible, and those who attack the statement have not read it carefully. We should appreciate such efforts that lead to the unity of the church, the body of Jesus Christ as the strength of the church comes with love, peace and good news for all.

As Pope of the Vatican will visit Egypt on April 28-29, he will meet with Sheikh of Al-Azhar and Pope Tawadros in Cairo. On that occasion, heads of the Muslim Sunnis and the Catholic and Orthodox Churches will meet, and I find this a great opportunity to announce a major humanitarian initiative of coexistence. The three of them can declare a mutual code of ethics, humanity and respect.

While celebrating the feast, they suddenly closed their eyes and opened it to see a wondrous light leading to the face of God. I am talking here about the martyrs of the Churches of St. George in Tanta and St. Mark in Alexandria. They were killed on Palm Sunday to celebrate the Easter in heaven. In these days, we celebrate the joyful resurrection of Jesus Christ which was a turning point in the history of mankind. However, evil terrorism has used this wonderful occasion to kill and demolish in the name of God. Several terrorist attacks against Coptic Churches have tried to incite hatred, sectarianism and extremism between Muslims and Christians in Egypt. Yet, Christ faced such evil saying: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven”

Death has always been the end of life. Thus, many people fear it as evil and hateful destiny. Those who love the earth hate death above all. Jesus Christ gave us many marks of the end of earth and said: “So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near”. (Luke 21: 31) Here we must emphasize that trials and tribulations increase the faith of Christians. I remember here the terrible scene of slaying Coptic martyrs in Libya in 2015, which came after a series of torture in order to force them to change their faith. They were forced to carry heavy sand bags and walk for long time after being stripped off under the heat of the sun. They believed the words of Jesus Christ when he said: “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! (Luke 12:4-5)

The blood of Coptic martyrs in Tanta and Alexandria colored the branches of palm that were prepared for the celebration of the feast last Sunday. There is a serious security failure by the security services in Gharbia and Alexandria as they did not intensify the security measures and take all precautionary measures to secure the churches during such Christian celebration, especially at the church in Tanta where an explosive device was dismantled couple of days before the attack. Moreover, one week earlier, another terrorist attack occurred in Tanta at a police training camp, which proves there is a serious security negligence.

Salafis and some scholars of Al-Azhar used to attack Christians and their beliefs without accountability. The state has not taken most reports against those fanatics seriously. The president has called several times about renewal of religious discourse, but the government has cooperated with the fanatics and let them manipulate minds of the people and call the Copts infidels. In fact, the president has to remove the Sheikh of Al-Azhar since the current curricula produced suicide bombers who believe they do the right thing by killing themselves to murder innocent people.

What happened to Egypt, which was the first to know and teach civilization? This country was the first to liberate slaves, abolish slavery and the tribute created by the invading Arabs. Egypt has lost its moderation after the defeat of 1967, which was accompanied by the migration of Egyptian labor to the Saudi Arabia to learn Wahhabism. After Sadat came in power, he called himself the faithful president and promised to destroy Christianity in Egypt. He collaborated with extremists who spread fanaticism in Egypt and converted Islam into racist and sectarian religion that hates the others and persecute them. Such sectarianism expanded to call all different Muslims infidels as long as they are not Wahhabi. The truth is that terrorism all over the world is related to Wahhabism. Yet, the same ideology is taught to students in Al-Azhar University.

Groups of Muslims in Luxor demonstrated demanding a Coptic family to hand over their daughter claiming she converted into Islam and got married to a Muslim young man. On the other hand, Copts say the Muslim young man is trying to force their daughter to convert into Islam and marry him. Yet, the Muslims insist she has already converted into Islam and her family is hiding her. However, the Muslims don’t have any prove or documents she married this man or converted into Islam.

I read an article about the Great Lent by Abba Benjamin, Bishop of Menoufia, in which he addressed the issue of fasting that leads to partnership with God. The article entitled "True Fasting" told us about the plan of true fasting according to the second psalm that says: “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling”. It is a good chance to pray in house and in churches with daily masses. Fasting is a good chance to do good remembering the verse: But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrew 13:16).

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been calling for nearly three years on Al-Azhar Sheikhs to develop the religious discourse, but they didn’t. In fact, Sheikh of Al-Azhar is responsible for Al-Azhar religious and educational institutions. Therefore, he is responsible for developing and changing education curriculum that incites violence and terrorism. Changing the wrong concepts of the graduates of Al-Azhar who work in all state institutions, especially the Ministry of Education, Interior and Justice.

A German philosopher once said that Asian people have the future pointing out that they were going to progress soon, which already happened to South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. Korea has large industrial progress, while Hong Kong has very good average per capita income comparing to other countries. Taiwan depends on small industries.

As we celebrated the valentine’s day we should remember that God is the one who deserves our love. I’m talking here about the holy trinity and all attributes of the loving God for mankind. People usually show their love by working for the beloved. In fact, love is great as it belongs to heaven. It unites people and makes difference. Let’s rejoice in that day and send our best wishes to our relatives and friends even in heaven. Love increases by giving. So, let’s give generously, especially for those who have nobody to care for. Let’s offer our love to the needy, street children and the lowly.