Voice of America
As the sun came down around the Vatican Embassy in Cairo on Friday, police lined the streets, and soldiers waited in army trucks behind roadblocks.
Despite the heavy security presence, there was a sense of relief as many eyes turned to their television screens to watch the day’s events unfold. On his first day of his first visit to Egypt, Pope Francis was safe.
“This visit will strengthen relations between Christians in Egypt and the Catholic Church,” said Rizk Rashad, looking away from the cafe TV screen where the pope and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi were speaking. “Perhaps next our president will visit the Vatican.”
On the television, Francis delivered a speech warning of the dangers of rigid, narrow-minded belief structures.
“For all our need of the Absolute, it is essential that we reject any ‘absolutizing’ that would justify vio...
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