His Holiness Pope Tawadros II received Dr. Ahmed Okasha, former president of the World Psychiatric Association, and Dr. Victor Sami, professor of psychiatric and neurological diseases at the Papal headquarters in
Cairo. During the meeting, they discussed how to raise awareness about the societal view of mental illness, and the importance of society accepting the idea that mental illness is a disease that needs to be treated since the Egyptian society refuses to accept it. They also discussed the role of the church to make such social change.