12 quotes found
"My Christian faith makes me respect the other and love the other, do the best for the other. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ came and gave his life for us, so we can convert and love the other whatever he is, whether he's a Jew, a Muslim or any other religion. We have to respect each other and love each other."
"I feel Advent is a joyful preparation for the Nativity of the Lord. It's always struck me that perhaps liturgical vestments, which at this time are purple, would better perhaps be blue, uniting us to our Blessed Lady in her preparation for the birth of her Son, but then I am a bit unconventional in this way."
"The main problem in Egypt today is political ignorance, for which everything ends up having a religious connotation. This is true both for Christians and for Muslims. We all need to mature politically."
"Catholics in Egypt are offering the rosary, the Stations of the Cross and Masses for the Pope and his intentions. We pray that God will comfort him in his suffering. Here both Christians and Muslims are praying for the Pope recognised by all as a great spiritual leader. Christians and Muslims pray that God’s will may be done. Our Catholics love the Pope and our Muslims respect and admire him. John Paul II has won everyone's heart he is a symbol of peace and unity."
"Christians of all confessions in Egypt pray and wait for the new Pope. We know the Holy Spirit will choose a Pope who is a true disciple of Jesus. For our part we hope the new Pope will continue along the path of inter-religious dialogue with Muslims and other believers. This is important for those of us who live in a Muslim country. We hope too that he will promote deeper communion among Christians and with the Orthodox Churches, much desired by Christians in Egypt where Easter and Christmas are celebrated according to the Orthodox Calendar somewhat later than the Roman calendar. All Christians are united by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and like the first disciples we must be witnesses today."
"I was celebrating Mass when the white smoke appeared. I was informed and immediately announced to local Catholics the name of the new Pope Benedict XVI, faces were radiant with happiness. I gave the people a brief outline of the new Pope's life and work. We then joined in prayer and will continue to pray for the new Pope that the Lord may assist him and help him in his mission which will not be easy. We hope he will be a bridge between the Church in the East and the Church in the West."
"It would be proper to mention the presence and the role of the Oriental Churches and those of North Africa for them to bloom in ecclesial communion and not be diminished to only "Monumenta Archeologiae Christianae". The entire Church-Family of God should be interested in Africa and not only the Churches that are in Africa."
"The Church has gone in search of lost sheep, with patience and perseverance, full of love. Encourage and accept the participation of the lay faithful, because they contribute to the work in the field of the Lord."
"Egypt is not Mali. It is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. More than ten million Christians live there. Its economy is based on tourism and trade. This is why one cannot agree to allow it to become an Islamist Country. But there are also international strategies that project a division of Egypt."
"The Lord is great and merciful and he supports this wounded humanity. I see it in the eyes of the children and the defenseless of this tormented Holy Land. I see it in the simple gestures when sharing pain and suffering. This is the strength of the faith of the Christians of the Holy Land. Their life here is a continuous testimony, and we must continue to support them."
"This providential coincidence in its own way makes us feel like the Lord takes care of His Church. In that moment, the prayers for the election of the new Pope and the beginning of the ministry of the new Coptic Catholic Patriarch will merge and will stand together towards the Lord Almighty, who will make us all feel in union with Jesus, in universal communion that embraces the universal Church and is reflected in the Cardinals who have come to Rome from all over the world to take part in the Conclave in prayer, faith, hope and in the courage of the Holy Spirit. During the Mass in Cairo there will be some prayer intentions for the election of the new Pope. While I, at St. Peter's, will also pray for the Church in Egypt and the beginning of the patriarchal office of His Beatitude Ibrahim Sidrak. Now I will be united with all of them in prayer."
"We Christians must be united to serve others. Our unity can never be reduced to a political alliance against a common enemy."