Leader of Egypt's Catholic Copts: a Better Future Awaits

MADRID, Spain, JULY 12, 2012 (Zenit.org). The election of Mohammed Mursi as president of Egypt is reason for hope in a better future for the country's Christians, according to the head of the country’s Coptic Catholic Church.

Bishop Kyrillos William, administrator of the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria, said this Wednesday at an Aid to the Church in Need press conference in Madrid.

“The future will not be worse than what we have had before,” said the bishop.

Bishop William, who is standing in for Cardinal Patriarch Antonios Naguib, incapacitated by a stroke last year, expressed his confidence that President Mursi will keep promises he made after the elections to govern for everyone regardless of religion.

“In Egypt we all are Egyptian – whether Christian or Muslim – and the President has promised that there will be a Copt and a woman appointed as vice-presidents.

“Although we still do not know who will be appointed, we trust he will keep his word.”

The prelate expressed optimism, saying the future looks better now. 

He added: “In Egypt we have 170 Catholic schools, and many of the leaders of the country send their children there, although they are not Catholics.

“This means that when their children are older and running the country, they will be more open in their relations with us Christians and more respectful.”

Christians make up 9% of Egypt's population. There are no more than 250,000 Catholics out of a total population of 83 million.