Egypt: Pope Francis maintains visit despite blast massacre

Egypt: Pope Francis maintains visit despite blast massacre

The Head of the Roman Catholic will still visit Cairo this month as planned despite twin bombs which ripped two Copt Churches, killing 44 people.
Mgr Angelo Becciu, third most important of leader of the Catholic Church told Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Monday that the Sunday massacre will not deter the Holy Father to carry out his mission.
“There is no doubt the Holy Father will maintain his offer to go to Egypt” on April 28 and 29, Becciu added.
The two subside-bomb attacks turned Palm Sunday into carnage as 44 Coptic Christians died in Alexandria and Tanta north of Cairo. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attacks while threatening for further attack.
The two attacks were deadliest against the Christian minority community. Accounting for 10 per cent of the Egyptian population (92 million) the Copts have been facing discrimination, sectarian violence.
Another attack targeted the community in December after an IS subside bomber blew himself up, killing 27 in a Church in Cairo.
The Argentine Holy Father on Sunday condemned the attacks and sent his condolences to the injured and the family of the victims.
Becciu also announced that Egypt has assured safety for the Pope.
Pope Francis during the visit will meet with cheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Imam of Al-Azhar. The Egyptian religious leader is reckoned one of the top most influential leaders of Sunnite Islam.
Both leaders met before in May 2016 in Vatican.

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