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Pope Tawadros Inaugurates Largest Coptic Church in the Gulf | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Egypt’s Pope Tawadros meets with Kuwaiti emir on official visit


Kuwait –Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Church, inaugurated on Tuesday in Kuwait, the largest Coptic church in the Gulf, which extends over an area of 6,500 sqm.

The inauguration ceremony, held under tight security measures, gathered a number of government officials and representatives of different religious confessions in Kuwait.

On Sunday, Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Pope Tawadros II, who expressed happiness over his meeting with the Emir as well as his visit to Kuwait, which he said was known for its tolerance and kindness of its people.

Pope Tawadros II, in a mass at the Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, commended Kuwait-Egypt deep-rooted relations at the official and public levels.

Tawadros arrived in Kuwait for a four-day visit on Sunday at the invitation of the Kuwaiti Emir, marking the first such visit to the state by a Coptic Orthodox patriarch.

Local media reports quoted the Coptic Pope as saying: “I was amazed by the kindness of the Emir, officials, and people of Kuwait. I know there are people from more than 100 nationalities living in Kuwait in harmony.”

He also praised Kuwait’s efforts to fight terrorism, stressing that terrorism in Egypt “will not break the strong bond between Muslims and Christians that has persevered for more than 14 centuries.”

On Thursday, Pope Tawadros concludes his visit to Kuwait and returns to Egypt, where he will receive Pope Francis on April 28-29.