Pope Shenouda III, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, said on Tuesday that Egypt is currently experiencing peace and quiet due to the efforts of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), and that Copts will celebrate the new year and Christmas mass as normal, free from fear.
He made the comments during his weekly sermon, adding that next week’s sermon has been canceled due to preparations for Coptic Christmas on Friday, 6 January.
The Pope warned against judging government officials without knowledge of the conditions under which they make their decisions.
Meanwhile, Coptic activists invited Alaa Abd El Fattah, a blogger who was detained in connection with the Maspero massacre earlier this year, to attending the Christmas mass.
Security forces have announced their plans to secure churches and public places, such as cinemas, theaters and nightclubs, over Coptic Christmas and the new year.
Representatives of various political organizations, along with media figures and parliamentarians, are organizing a ceremony to pay tribute to those killed at last year’s church bombing in Alexandria, which left over 20 dead.
