With mixed Catholic and Coptic hymns and with prayers performed by tens of thousands of worshipers, present from the early hours of the morning on Saturday 29 April at the Air Defence Stadium in New Cairo, Pope Francis led a unique mass, calling for the faithful to free their hearts from hatred, to embrace the weak and the needy and to show respect for the liberties and rights of all. Pope Francis prays for love and peace Ahead of the mass, the pontiff toured the stadium in an electric cart as colourful balloons were released and hymns were performed by multi-faith choirs. The mass was the second public prayer that Pope Francis performed during his 27-hour visit to Egypt. On Friday evening, at St Peter & St Paul Church, the target an attack by Islamic State in December last year which killed over 30 worshipers, Pope Francis joined the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church Pope Tawdros in an ecumenical prayer service followed by the lighting of candles for the victims of the attack. Pope Francis prays for love and peace The service came a few minutes after both patriarchs put their signatures to an historic agreement on the rules of baptism that would spare those who move from the Catholic Church to the Coptic Orthodox Church from entering re-baptism. On the last stop of his visit to Egypt, Pope Francis was scheduled to meet with the heads of churches. Pope Francis prays for love and peace While in Egypt, beyond the message of rapprochement between the Catholic Church of Rome and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, Pope Francis made a clear call for inter-faith dialogue during his visit to Al-Azhar, the second stop of his visit that started early afternoon on Friday. Speaking that day at the concluding session of a two-day international peace conference, Pope Francis underlined the need for the respect of all religious liberties and rights. He called for an end to violence and said this comes through the promotion of education, development and tolerance. Later on Friday, during a statement he made at a gathering with public figures that was hosted by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Pope Francis said that history will only honour those who make peace and lead to a better world and do all they can to promote coexistence. During his visit to the Coptic Cathedral, Pope Francis made another call for cohabitation – this time between the Catholic and Coptic churches, whose joint mission, like that of Jesus Christ, is “the call for peace”. Pope Francis prays for love and peace This is the first visit by the head of the Vatican to Egypt in 17 years. The last visit was made by Pope John Paul II in 2000. Pope Francis was scheduled to leave Cairo later Saturday according to his itinerary that was strictly observed throughout his visit and which was under tight security.
