Catholic Pope Benedict’s recent statements about the Alexandria church bombing did not constitute "interference" in Egypt’s domestic affairs, the Vatican's embassy in Cairo said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement went on to stress that the pope had said that he had been "deeply sorry" to hear that Coptic Christians had been attacked in Alexandria, noting that the crime was similar to crimes in Iraq, where bombs have been detonated in Christian areas in order to terrorize Christians into fleeing the country.
The statement also noted that the pope had called the Alexandria bombing "a crime against God and humanity," which had impacted all Alexandria residents. It should not, however, be met with more violence, he added.
The statement went on to assert that the pope’s remarks should not be considered "interference in Egypt's internal affairs," but rather a call for individuals and political leaders to respect all religions and encourage peaceful coexistence.
“If the pope says he isn't interfering in Egypt’s affairs and supports the Egyptian government’s stance, then we welcome his statement,” said Al-Azhar spokesman Mohamed Refaa al-Tahtawy. He added that Al-Azhar was keen to continue its dialogue with the Vatican when the atmosphere was more conducive to interfaith understanding.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
