Aid to the Church in Need helps 3000 young Egyptians to meet Pope Francis in Cairo
3000 young people from all over the country are going on a pilgrimage to Cairo supported by Aid to the Church in Need (CAN) to participate in Pope Francis´ visit to Egypt. Their journey will start on 25th of April and include liturgy celebrations in different shrines on the way to Cairo, celebration of masses and confessions, as well a visit to hospitals and shelters in Cairo the day before the Pope’s arrival. The group of young pilgrims consists of 250 representatives from each Catholic diocese of Egypt besides 1000 participants from Cairo itself.
Johannes Heereman von Zuydtwyck, Executive President of “Aid to the Church in Need” said : “I think it is of high importance that we offer our help for the visit of the Holy Father to Egypt. This country is becoming a center of persecution and suffering. In order to help Christians persevere in their faith and in unity to the Holy Father, ACN supports young Christians to participate in the encounter and in the visit itself.”
“The visit of His Holiness is of huge importance for our faithful people, for the Egyptian community with all its different groups” Father Hani Bakhoum Kiroulos, Vice President of the coordinating committee of the visit, told ACN. Pointing out the importance crucial role of the youth for the future of the country he remarked: “It is important to seek strong reasons for life and hope, especially in the current circumstances we are undergoing in Egypt. Many young people have the desire to participate in the huge event; therefore we want to give them the chance of a good preparation”. The last papal visit to Egypt was in February 2000 when Pope John Paul II visited the country including Cairo and Sinai.
John Pontifax
