Premier | Pope Tawadros II ends UK visit with Prince Charles meeting

Wrapping up his first pastoral UK visit, the Coptic Church leader Pope Tawadros II has been welcomed to Clarence House by the Prince of Wales.

The event on Wednesday followed other meetings with figures including the Queen, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Egyptian ambassador to the UK.

Commenting on the visit, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, said: “It has been a blessing for the Coptic community here in the United Kingdom to engage with their shepherd.

“It was also an opportunity for His Holiness to meet his flock and to encounter some of the work being done under the various ministries within the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom.”

In addition to meeting high-profile figures, Pope Tawadros II also visited parishes and communities across the country, and consecrated a number of churches.

His Grace Bishop Angaelos added: “I am thankful that the visit was fruitful and gave His Holiness an overview of the diverse and dynamic role of Coptic Christians across Britain who endeavour to live faithfully according to their Christian principles, while being fully integrated into their surrounding community.

“I am also pleased that we had the opportunity to learn from the example of peaceful yet powerful resilience that His Holiness and our brothers and sisters in Egypt demonstrate on a daily basis.”

Following a meeting at the Palace of Westminster last week, where he address members of the House of Lords, Pope Tawadros II also laid a wreath in Westminster Hall to remember victim of the Westminster terror attack, PC Keith Palmer.

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