His Holiness Pope Tawadros II Meets Members of the Coptic Church in Serbia
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark met today with members of the Coptic Orthodox Church residing in Serbia at the Church of Saint Mark the Apostle in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. The group consisted of around 130 young people and the visit came as part of his ongoing pastoral visit of the Diocese of Central Europe, which began on April 25.
So far, the Pope's visit has included visits to Poland and Romania before reaching his third stop in Serbia, which began yesterday.
Present at the gathering were Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of the Diocese, the Pope’s accompanying delegation, Egyptian Ambassador to Serbia, Bassel Salah, and a number of leaders and members of the Serbian Church.
The Coptic youth welcomed the Pope with great joy. His Holiness expressed his happiness at meeting them, saying:
"I am very glad to see you here. You carry the name of Egypt and the Church wherever you go. Your presence here is a beautiful testimony to our people's love of life and their diligence everywhere."
During the meeting, the Pope learned in detail about the youth's living conditions to ensure their well-being and offered fatherly advice, praising their perseverance and hard work—especially since most of them are from Upper Egypt and came to work about a year and a half ago, despite some having limited educational backgrounds. He said:
"God directs our lives. You are children of the Church and bear a great responsibility: to your homeland, your Church, and your work. Be faithful, and you will receive the crown of life, as the Scripture says: 'Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life' (Revelation 2:10)."
Pope Tawadros then shared three core pieces of advice, emphasizing:
"Faithfulness begins with words, thoughts, and deeds. Let your integrity be your motto in everything you do. Do not let deceit into your hearts—remember the Egyptian proverb: ‘The cheater’s house will never rise.’"
He continued:
"Remember the martyrs of Libya who remained faithful to their country and Church to the point of shedding blood, offering a powerful witness of faith to the world. They taught us that faithfulness is the most precious thing we possess. Always be faithful, and God will bless you, lift you up, and provide for you in ways you cannot imagine."….
This news was originally published on the Facebook Page of the Coptic Orthodox Church, click here to read more.