Pope Francis and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands during a private audience at the Vatican November 24, 2014. (Photo; Reuters)
Egypt's ambassador to the Vatican handed Pope Francis an official invitation to visit Egypt from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Al-Ahram newspaper reported Monday.
In an interview with Al-Ahram, ambassador Wafaa Nessim said the visit is being coordinated through diplomatic channels and its date has not yet been determined.
Nessim added that Pope Tawadros II, Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Pope, also invited Pope Francis to visit Egypt.
El-Sisi met with Pope Francis in the Vatican last November and informally invited him to visit Egypt.
Former president Hosni Mubarak visited the Vatican in 2006 and met Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope John Paul II visited Egypt in 2000, which was the only visit by the Vatican's Pope to Egypt.
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