WCC NEWS: Pope Shenouda III receives condolences from WCC delegation

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World Council of Churches - News

POPE SHENOUDA III RECEIVES CONDOLENCES FROM WCC DELEGATION

For immediate release: 09 January 2011

Visitors from the Geneva offices of the World Council of Churches 
(WCC)
were honoured to be received in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday 8 January 
2011 by
Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Rev. Dr Olav 
Fykse
Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, led the group to Cairo in order 
to
offer personal condolences in the aftermath of the lethal bomb attack 
at
the New Year on a church in Alexandria.


Tveit expressed  the sympathy and support of the WCC member churches 
to
Pope Shenouda at this  difficult  time for Egypt. He gave his 
assurance
that the fellowship of churches was united in prayer for the Coptic
Orthodox Church and for all the people of Egypt.


The WCC general secretary spoke of the cross as a symbol of solidarity
shared by Christians around the world. “The cross serves as a reminder
of the suffering borne in human life, and of Christ’s death on the
cross, yet as a Christian emblem it also points toward resurrection,
reconciliation and peace,” Tveit said.


In his message for Christmas, which the Coptic Orthodox celebrated on 
7
January, Pope Shenouda focused on the love and peace of God towards
everyone. “It is encouraging to see how his message inspired both
Christians and Muslims to stand together against violence and 
attempts at
dividing the people” Tveit said. “Pope Shenouda demonstrates that when
spiritual leadership is done well, it can have tremendous influence in
making peace.”


Pope Shenouda stressed the importance of prayer to God, and the need 
for
solidarity among all people.


Tveit was accompanied from Geneva to Cairo by WCC director of 
programmes
Rev. Dr Hielke Wolters and programme executive for Christian-Muslim
dialogue Rima Barsoum.


WCC member churches in Egypt (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=40a7d01e30ab49034017 )

WCC press release of 1 January 2011: WCC condemns attack on church in
Alexandria (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=a2f0589e97504fee1596
)

A letter of solidarity from the Protestant Church of Geneva (pdf):
* In English (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=3713ddba9ed8ab9c176c
)
* In French (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=fba4ee1cd6bcd976971b
)


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, 
witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship 
of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 
Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 
million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the 
Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse 
Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, 
Switzerland.



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