Pope Francis to Proceed With Egypt Trip Despite Deadly Attacks
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis will move forward with his planned visit to Egypt at the end of the month despite terrorist attacks on two Christian churches over the weekend. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for both bombings that were perpetrated during Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.
Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the secretariat of state's second-in-command and third most important figure in the Vatican, announced that the pope's trip will proceed as planned.
"There is no doubt that the Holy Father will maintain his offer to go to Egypt," he said. "Egypt has assured us that everything will go as well as possible, so we will go confidently."
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Pope Francis got wind of the bombings while celebrating Palm Sunday mass in the Vatican and denounced the incidents during the weekly Angelus that noon. He prayed that the Lord convert the hearts of people who sow terror, violence and death as well as those who make and traffic weapons.
The pontiff will leave Rome 10:45 a.m. CEST of April 28 and is expected to arrive Cairo around 2:00 p.m. CEST. He will be welcomed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He will proceed to a speaking engagement at an international conference on peace then meet with Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
The next day, Pope Francis will celebrate mass in the morning followed by a luncheon meeting with Egypt's bishops. A farewell ceremony awaits him in the afternoon after he meets with priests, religious and seminarians. He is scheduled to leave at 5:00 p.m. CEST and arrive in Rome at 8:30 p.m. CEST.
Unlike his predecessors who ride the bulletproof popemobile, Pope Francis has been known to meet crowds on an open-top vehicle during his foreign visits. It is not known if this will be the arrangement in light of the volatile situation in Egypt. ISIS has one time castigated him for refusing to associate Islam with terrorism.
