Statement by President Michael D. Higgins following a meeting with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
Date: Thu 18th May, 2017 | 13:06
18 May 2017
President Michael D. Higgins today received His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Pope Tawadros II was accompanied by Her Excellency Ms. Soha Gendi, Ambassador of Egypt; Bishop Antony, Bishop of the Coptic Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, North East England and its affiliated regions; Bishop Makar, AD Ashraf Ibrahim Salim Guirguis, Bishop of Sharkia and Tenth of Ramadan; Bishop Pavly, AD Emil Narouz Makary Bekhat; and Bishop (Anba) Angaelos.
During their meeting, President Michael D. Higgins conveyed his condolences on the loss of life following recent attacks on two Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday.
President Higgins and Pope Tawadros went on to discuss a number of issues of national, regional and global importance. Both leaders stressed the importance of international cooperation based on the rule of law and the realisation of existing international commitments to meet the major challenges of our time, and to affirm and strengthen guarantees to human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of belief and expression
The leaders emphasised the crucial value of human rights, including the freedom of religion and the rights of prisoners. President Higgins made particular reference to the pressing case of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa, which he described as needing an urgent resolution.
Both leaders also highlighted the importance of inclusive political dialogue in seeking to bring an end to the conflicts which now prevail and are threatening humanity in so many parts of the world, and the urgency of achieving new means of ensuring stability, democracy and sustainable development.