Pope Leo XIV reaches out to leader of Egypt’s Christians

The Day of Friendship between Copts and Catholics has been celebrated every May 10 since 2013. In his letter addressed to Pope Tawadros this year for the occasion, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that this initiative represents far more than a symbolic gesture. Born from a proposal by the Coptic pope, this day highlights that “for us Christians, friendship is not a vague sentiment; it is at the very heart of our life and faith,” the pontiff wrote. He added that spiritual fraternity is a fundamental building block for bringing the two Churches closer together.

The Bishop of Rome also highlighted the theological progress made over more than half a century between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church. He pointed to a “highly fruitful theological dialogue initiated over 50 years ago by St. Paul VI and His Holiness Pope Shenouda III” in 1973. This dialogue was later formally structured in 2003 within the framework of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Pope Leo XIV praised the commission's “three landmark documents,” which he noted “demonstrate an increasing theological understanding.” He expressed his hope that the commission might “resume its work as soon as possible” to answer Christ’s prayer “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). This echoes a major theme in the pope's magisterium; he drew his papal motto, In Illo uno unum (In Him who is One, we are One), from a sermon by St. Augustine.

The Pope also suggested that reflections surrounding the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea could “rekindle our desire to achieve the visible unity of the Church.” This unity, he explained, is rooted in “the one baptism that we profess in the Nicene Creed.”

This anniversary commemoration provided the occasion for Pope Leo XIV to make his first international apostolic journey to Turkey in November 2025. During that trip, he expressed his desire for an ecumenical gathering in Jerusalem as part of the 2033 Jubilee.

Addressing the current tense international climate, Pope Leo XIV stressed that “Christians must, more than ever, strive for full unity so that we may bear witness together to the Prince of Peace.” The Pope specifically mentioned the suffering in the Middle East and recalled the powerful witness of the “countless martyrs” who have died for the name of Christ. This theme of an "ecumenism of blood" was also a prominent aspect of Pope Francis' teaching.

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his prayer that the Holy Spirit “will guide Copts and Catholics on our common pilgrimage in truth and charity towards full communion,” while expressing his desire to meet with Pope Tawadros in person soon.

The Holy Father's desire to relaunch discussions comes at a delicate time for ecumenism. Relations between the Catholic Church and several Oriental Orthodox Churches became highly strained following the December 2023 publication of Fiducia supplicans. Issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the document permitted pastoral, non-liturgical blessings for couples in irregular situations or same-sex unions.

Following its release, the Coptic Orthodox Church announced the suspension of its theological dialogue with Rome. The Church felt the text contradicted its traditional understanding of Christian morality and marriage.

This crisis undermined the efforts toward unity that were so visible during Pope Tawadros’s visit to Rome in May 2023. During that visit, Pope Francis announced the inclusion of the 21 Christian workers — 20 of whom were Coptic Orthodox — murdered by Islamic State jihadists on a Libyan beach on February 15, 2015, in the Roman Martyrology.

However, following the crisis of the winter of 2023–2024, contact between the two Churches became increasingly rare. “The situation remains difficult, as the Orthodox felt that Catholics had lost the faith,” a source close to the matter explained in 2025.

Friday morning’s phone call and the highly fraternal tone of Pope Leo XIV’s message appear to be an attempt to restore trust. However, doctrinal differences continue to weigh heavily on the path toward full communion between Catholics and Copts.

Last Sunday, May 10, during the Regina Caeli prayer, Pope Leo XIV recalled the celebration of the Day of Friendship between Copts and Catholics and sent his greetings to Pope Tawadros. He expressed his hope that “our journey of friendship will lead us to perfect unity in Christ.”

Coptic Orthodox Christians represent the largest Christian community in North Africa and the Middle East, with about 10 million faithful in Egypt and a large diaspora. Meanwhile, the Coptic Catholic Church, which is in full communion with Rome, has approximately 250,000 members.