ROME, 15 (NE) The Patriarch of the Catholic Copts, His Beatitude Stephanos Gattas II, recently sent a message urging Catholics Copts in Egypt to a spiritual preparation to welcome Pope John Paul II, to visit Egypt next week. "In the name of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, I have the plasure and the honour to announce to our good Catholic people that for the first time in history a Roman Pope in undertaking a visit to our dear homeland Egypt", said the Patriarch in his message, written in Arabic and translated by Fides.

    Recalling that through Egyptian lands traveled St. Joseph together with Blessed Mary and the Child Jesus, as well as centuries before had Abraham, Joseph, son of Jacob, the Prophet Jeremiah and Moses, the Patriarch stressed that "Pope John Paul II's visit to Egypt is a true pilgrimage to the Holy places that are abundant in our country." Expressing his joy for the Holy Father's trip, he also invited "all the Catholics in Egypt to prepare themselves spiritually in order to welcome the great grace that God is giving us in the Pope's visit to our dear country, at the very moment when we celebrate the second Alexandria Council, so that we can deepen our faith and renew our inner life".

    As a special moment for preparation, the Patriarch of the Catholic Copts recommended a Triduo in Catholic churches as well as in all the convents for religious and nuns from Sunday the 20th to Tuesday the 22nd of February. "Triduo that should go along with the sacrament of Reconciliation so that we would prepare our hearts to receive the graces in abundance that God will gratify us during His Holiness' visit."

    Pope John Paul II's visit will take place from February 24th to 26th. It will be the first visit of a Roman Pontiff to Egypt. Pope John Paul II visited this country when he was Archbishop in Poland, in the year 1963. Although Catholics in Egypt mainly live in Cairo, churches and catholic communities exist all throughout the country.