Vatican confirms Pope to visit Egypt April 28-29
Following various media reports, the Vatican has confirmed Pope Francis will visit Egypt April 28-29 in order to stop at the Al-Azhar university and mosque, considered the premier center of learning in the Sunni Muslim world, to press the campaign against religious violence.
Card. Jean-Louis Tauran receives Sheik Ahmed el-Tayyib, left, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, as he arrives for his audience with Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace, at Vatican, Monday, May 23, 2016. (Credit: Maurizio Brambatti/ANSA via AP Photo.)
Crux Staff
March 18, 2017
Following widespread media reports, the Vatican confirmed on Saturday that Pope Francis will visit Egypt over the last weekend of April, focusing on a trip to the Al-Azhar university and mosque in Cairo, widely considered the most significant center of learning in the Sunni Muslim world.
The Vatican spokesman, veteran American journalist Greg Burke, confirmed the dates of the trip in a Saturday statement.
“In response to the invitation from the President of the Republic, the Bishops of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Grand Imam of the Mosque of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayyib, His Holiness Pope Francis will make an Apostolic trip to the Arab Republic of Egypt from 28 to 29 April 2017, visiting the city of Cairo,” Burke said.
“The program of the trip will be published shortly,” he added.
https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/03/18/reports-pope-francis-visit-egypt-last-weekend-april/