Sunday's bomb attacks on two Coptic
churches that left at least 44 dead will not stop Pope Francis's
two-day trip to Egypt at the end of this month, the Vatican has
said.
Extremist Islamist group ISIS has claimed responsibility for
the attacks that prompted Egyptian President Abdul Fattah
al-Sisi to declare a three-month state of emergency.
"It was an attack on dialogue, on peace," Monsignor Angelo
Becciu, the Vatican's Substitute for General Affairs in the
Secretariat of State, said in an interview in Monday's Corriere
della Sera.
"I also think it was an indirect message to those who govern
the country and against the Christian minority which, in recent
times, has found more liberty.
"There is no doubt that the Holy Father will maintain his
resolution to go.
"What happened caused dismay and great suffering, but it
cannot stop the pope's mission of peace taking place".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
