Pope Francis added 21 Coptic Christians murdered in 2015 to the Catholic Church’s martyrology during last week’s visit to Rome by the head of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria.
The visit marked the fiftieth anniversary of the meeting between St Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, the first encounter between leaders of the two Churches.
Francis and Tawadros wrote a joint preface to a new book commemorating the historic 1973 meeting, in which they expressed their desire to “journey towards full communion”.
Tawadros joined Francis for the general audience last Wednesday and addressed the crowd in St Peter’s Square.
“Despite the differences in our roots and affiliation,” he said, “we are united by the love of Christ who dwells within us, and the host of our apostolic fathers and saints which surrounds and guides us.”
Francis announced the additions to the Roman Martyrology on 11 May in an exchange of speeches between the two popes, in which each considered the progress of ecumenical relations in recent decades.
While looking to the future, said Francis, the Churches must also “rejoice in the path already travelled and draw on the fervour of the pioneers who have gone before us”.
He said that the 1973 meeting had ended a theological dispute dating back to the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The Copts, along with other Oriental Orthodox Churches, did not accept the teaching of the Definition of Chalcedon about the Person of Christ.
Tawadros presented a reliquary containing the blood of the 21 martyrs to Francis, who said he had “no words” to express his gratitude.
“May the prayer of the Coptic martyrs, united with that of the Theotokos [Our Lady], continue to grow the friendship between our Churches, until the blessed day when we can celebrate together at the same altar and commune in the same Body and Blood of the Saviour, ‘that the world may believe’,” Francis said.
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