Pope Francis visits Egypt in wake of attacks

The pontiff’s visit, intended to build on inter-faith dialogue with Muslim leaders, comes at a time of acute fear and uncertainty for Egypt’s Christian community following a spate of terrorist attacks


Apr 28-29: Pope Francis meets President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of al-Azhar – world’s most influential centre of Sunni Islamic theology – and Pope Tawadros II, head of Coptic Orthodox Church

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Feb 2017: Dozens of Coptic Christian families flee northern Sinai after number of killings
by suspected Islamist militants

Apr 9, 2017: Suicide bombers kill 45 people at two churches in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday. So-called Islamic State (IS) militants claim responsibility

Dec 11, 2016: Bombing at chapel adjacent to Cairo’s main Coptic cathedral kills 28 people. IS claims attack

Apr 18, 2017: One police officer killed and three others injured after IS militants attack
checkpoint near St Catherine’s Monastery – one of world’s oldest Christian monasteries


Population 81 million

Muslim Around 90%

Christian Around 10%


MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Nile Delta

Alexandria

Tanta

Cairo

Nile River

Ismailiya

Suez Canal

Suez

Arish

EGYPT

SINAI PENINSULA

Gulf of Suez

I S R A E L

JORDAN

SAUDI ARABIA

RED SEA

50km 30 miles


Sources: Vatican, Wire agencies 

Pictures: Getty Images

© GRAPHIC NEWS