The director of Egypt's Bibliotheca Alexandrina Mostafa El-Feki met with the Coptic Orthodox Church’s Pope Tawadros II on Saturday where they discussed planned joint projects between the Bibliotheca and the Church, including establishing a "religions museum," a statement by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina said on Saturday.

The museum, which will be established at the Bibliotheca of Alexandria, will encompass all Egyptian history, covering Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Jewish, Coptic and Islamic heritage, and will “reflect the real face of Egypt,” and the “spirit of tolerance and co-existence,” El-Fekki said.

Pope Tawadros II said that the museum will be unique in presenting Egyptian history and the diversity of the Egyptian character, and will include Egypt’s Christian history between the first and seventh centuries, as well as an archived history of monasteries.

Coptic Orthodox Church’s Pope Tawadros II during his visit to Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Photos: courtesy of Bibliotheca Alexandrina Facebook page)

El-Feki and the Pope also highlighted other joint projects, including the already established centre for Coptic studies as well as an ongoing project to restore Coptic manuscripts. The pope said that the centre plays an important role in the research and study of Egyptian and Coptic history, which is part of the Egyptian character.

The pope also met with a number of employees at the Bibliotheca, and visited its centres, museums, and different digital projects, and said that the Bibliotheca is a source of pride for Egypt.

Coptic Orthodox Church’s Pope Tawadros II during his visit to Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Photos: courtesy of Bibliotheca Alexandrina Facebook page)

Tawadros also said that reading is important for building personality and for progressive societies, and that a successful person should have an open mind and embrace all cultures.

El-Feki expressed his pleasure with Tawadros' visit, and stressed that Egypt embraces all its sons regardless of their religious beliefs, referring to the role the Coptic Orthodox Church has played in supporting the state, and the role of Copts in education and health, which benefit all Egyptians.