Egypt’s Pope Mourns Slain Copts, Calls For ‘Wisdom, Restraint’

As clashes persisted in the vicinity of Cairo’s main Coptic-Christian cathedral in the capital’s Abbasiya district, Coptic Pope Tawadros II issued a statement calling on the Egyptian people exercise “wisdom and restraint.”

In a papal statement, Tawadros stressed that he has remained in constant contact with state officials – including the interior minister and security heads – since Egypt’s latest outbreak of sectarian violence.

At least one person has been killed and 29 injured in on-again, off-again clashes that initially erupted on Sunday afternoon after unknown assailants attacked a funeral for victims of Saturday’s sectarian violence in Egypt’s Qalioubiya governorate north of Cairo.

Tawadros went on to extend his condolences to the families of Coptic Christians killed in recent violence and expressed hopes for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Ahram