Historic meeting between Pope and Coptic Orthodox leader

Pope Francis, Pope Tawadros II and the delegation of Coptic Orthodox leaders, including the UK's Bishop Angaelos, in a historic visit to the Vatican

Pope Francis and the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, Pope Tawadros II, held a historic meeting at the Vatican on Friday.

The visit took place to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two Churches. In particular, it marks 40 years since the Coptic Orthodox leader Pope Shenouda III and Catholic head Pope Paul VI signed the Christological agreement between their Churches at the Vatican in 1973.

Pope Francis said the meeting between their respective predecessors united them "in an embrace of peace and fraternity, after centuries of mutual distance".

The agreement helped institute a joint commission of theological dialogue between the two Churches which "has yielded good results and has prepared the ground for a broader dialogue between the Catholic Church and the entire family of Oriental Orthodox Churches, a dialogue that continues to bear fruit to this day".

In the agreement, the two Churches professed "one faith in the One Triune God" and "the divinity of the Only-begotten Son of God". Read more