The Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Ibrahim Isaac released a statement today regarding the dire political situation occurring in Egypt. Violence erupted after Muslim Brotherhood supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi began killing and burning churches, schools and state institutions in protest.
Patriarch Isaac, who also serves as President of the Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt, stated that Catholic Church in Egypt felt the need to clarify the reality of the current situation “out of love for our country and in solidarity with all lovers of Egypt, Christians and Muslims.”
The Catholic Church in Egypt, he said, expressed their “free, strong and conscious support for all state institutions, particularly the Armed Forces and the police for all their efforts in protecting our homeland.”
Patriarch Isaac also conveyed their appreciation to nations who understand “the nature of the events” while rejecting any interference by foreign countries to influence Egypt or its internal affairs.
The statement also thanked Egyptian and International media for objectively reporting the news and events that have occurred. However, the Catholic Church of Egypt strongly condemned “those media that promote lies and falsify the truth in order to mislead world public opinion.” The President of the Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt also thanked the honorable Muslim compatriots” who have aided in defending the Churches and institutions which have been attacked by Islamic extremists and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“We address the international conscious and all national leaders that they understand and believe that what is happening in Egypt now is not a political struggle between different factions, but a war against terrorism,” the statement read.
Concluding the message, Patriarch Isaac expressed his condolences to the families of the victims who have died in the conflict and asked the Lord “to heal all the injured.”
