Polish President Andrzej Duda welcomed Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and his accompanying delegation this morning at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. This was part of the Pope's official visit to the Diocese of Central Europe, which began last Friday with a visit to Poland.

President Duda warmly welcomed Pope Tawadros, expressing that the meeting represented a "return of love" following the Pope's visit to Egypt in May 2022. He emphasized that the meeting was an extension of the strong and cooperative relations between the two countries and their peoples, highlighting the importance of shared religious and cultural cooperation between Poland and Egypt.

President Duda also underscored the deep historical ties between Poland and Egypt, noting that Egypt holds a significant place in Polish history and culture, and that the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt holds a deep spiritual significance for the Polish people. He mentioned that Poland has known Christianity for about a thousand years, having embraced the Christian faith in the 10th century, and emphasized the prominent role of churches and monasteries in Poland, a country regarded as one of the most religiously devout in Europe. He added that he regularly visits monasteries for prayer.

The president expressed his great appreciation for the presence of the Coptic community in Poland, considering them an integral part of the social and cultural fabric of the country. He commended the Copts for their pastoral and health services in a peaceful and harmonious environment. President Duda noted that the Polish people take pride in their rich Christian history and expressed his joy in the presence of members of the Coptic Church in Poland, who take pride in their ancient heritage. He affirmed that these deep connections form a distinctive feature of the bilateral relations between Poland and Egypt.

Pope Tawadros II, in turn, expressed his deep gratitude for the warm welcome from President Duda and the official delegation. He expressed his happiness at visiting Poland, a country with a rich history and strong civilization. The Pope highlighted the deep religious and cultural bonds between Egypt and Poland, referencing some historical milestones that demonstrate these connections, and emphasized the many areas of cooperation between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Polish churches.

Pope Tawadros also recounted the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which was founded in Alexandria by Saint Mark the Evangelist, stating that the Coptic Church is one of the oldest churches in the Christian world and has a profound impact across the globe. He expressed his appreciation for the support the Coptic community receives in Poland, praising the Polish government's efforts to support the Coptic Orthodox Church and its members in Poland, reflecting the depth of human and spiritual ties between the two peoples.

In his speech, Pope Tawadros recalled the words of President Duda from their previous meeting in Egypt, where the president stated that "Egypt was a refuge for the Holy Family," emphasizing the great value that Egypt holds in the Christian tradition as the place of refuge for the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. The Pope added that the presence of Copts in Poland since the early days of Christianity reflects an important historical connection to this faith and demonstrates the deep spiritual bond between the Egyptian and Polish peoples.

During the meeting, Pope Tawadros invited President Duda to visit Egypt again, expressing that he would be delighted to welcome him to the Coptic Orthodox Church. He noted that the visit would be an excellent opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and increase cooperation in religious, cultural, and humanitarian fields.

In closing, Pope Tawadros II prayed for God's blessings upon Poland, its leadership, and its people, asking that President Duda be granted strength and wisdom to achieve further progress and prosperity, and that peace and love may prevail among all peoples. He also prayed for the success of all efforts to support Christian work in Poland, affirming that this visit would contribute to further enhancing the brotherly relations between the Egyptian and Polish peoples.

At the end of the meeting, commemorative gifts were exchanged between President Duda and Pope Tawadros, symbolizing the depth of friendship between the two countries and peoples.

It is worth noting that this visit is part of Pope Tawadros II's tour of Central European countries, aimed at strengthening spiritual and cultural ties between the Coptic Orthodox Church and other churches in the region.