Vatican’s Pope Francis leads a liturgy in Air Defense Stadium

Vatican’s Pope Francis held a liturgy at the June 30 stadium, known as the Air Defense, on Saturday in the attendance of over 25 thousand persons and representatives of all Catholic churches in Egypt. A number of politicians and parliamentarians have attended the liturgy.

During his sermon, the pope said, “We must break the stubbornness of our hearts and give our hearts to God. We must act with human hope, which, if it dies, the light of divine hope rise. God is pleased only by a faith that is proclaimed by our lives, for the only fanaticism believers can have is that of charity!  Any other fanaticism does not come from God and is not pleasing to him.”

The Egyptian armed forces are organizing a special celebration under the supervision of the Department of Moral Affairs to receive the Pope at the air defense stadium. There will also be dedicated places to pray for the guests along with a place for two thousand Coptic VIB figures in the main theater, which was equipped to receive the Pope, as well as two other theaters, one of the altar in the middle.

Some of the documentary films will be shown over the history of Pope Francis and another film about the creation of the Vatican State. The concert will also be broadcast live on all Egyptian, Arab and international channels. Another video is scheduled to be presented about the attacks that targeted the Egyptian churches after June 30 Revolution and will underline the efforts exerted by the Egyptian government to restore and reopen these churches.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi hosted the pope at Heliopolis’ presidential palace, then he met with Coptic Patriarch, Pope Tawadros II to discuss the recent developments in the relations between the two churches. Vatican’s pope also is scheduled to hold a liturgy in Air Defense Stadium on Friday.

Francis denounces violence in God's name and papal aides say a moderate like Tayeb would be an important ally in condemning radical Islam.

But Tayeb is under fire over the slow pace of reform at Azhar, which critics in Egypt's parliament and media accuse of failing to combat the religious foundations of Islamist extremism. They say Azhar is an ossified institution whose clerics have resisted pressure from Sisi to modernise their religious discourse.

According to Egyptian Catholic Archbishop Kirilos, the visit aims to follow the Catholic community in Egypt in addition to strengthening ecclesiastical relations between the Catholic Church on one hand and other eastern Orthodox Churches and Azhar on the other hand.