Two years after their meeting in Rome, Pope Francis has sent a message to Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.The church, which has 9 million members, is among the Oriental Orthodox churches that ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451).
“Today more than ever we are united by the ecumenism of blood, which further encourages us on the path towards peace and reconciliation,” Pope Francis said in his May 10 message. “I assure you and the Christian community in Egypt and throughout the Middle East of my unceasing prayer, and I remember in particular the Coptic faithful recently martyred for their Christian faith.”
“With thanksgiving to the Lord, I recall our advances along the path of friendship, united as we are by one baptism,” he continued. “Though our communion is yet imperfect, what we have in common is greater than what divides us. May we persevere on our journey to full communion, and grow in love and understanding.”
