In a phone call on Saturday, the pontiff wished El-Tayyeb and Muslims all the best on this occasion.

For his part, El-Tayyeb thanked the pope for the gesture, wishing Egypt further progress and stability.

The three-day Islamic holiday Eid El-Fitr will start in Egypt on Monday 2 May, Dar Al-Iftaa – the main authority responsible for issuing religious edicts in Egypt – has announced as Shawwal moon was not sighted.

Muslims will be able to perform Eid El-Fitr prayers of the Islamic year 1443 in the early morning on Monday at 5:36am in Cairo, according to astronomical calculations, with slight differences in time in other governorates.

Head of the Evangelical community in Egypt Andrea Zaki visited El-Tayyeb on Thursday to greet him on the occasion of Eid El-Fitr.

Zaki, who was accompanied by a delegation of Evangelical leaders, extended greetings to all Muslims in Egypt and around the world on the occasion of Eid, wishing Egypt continued progress and prosperity.

He praised the recent stances by the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the world's leading Sunni Islamic institute, on the relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country, describing them as "healing in the homeland” and “authentic positions that contribute to safeguarding peace and common existence in society."

Zaki also expressed his pride in his relationship with the grand imam, describing him as “not just an imam for Muslims, but an imam for all Egyptians.”

El-Tayyeb, for his part, said that he greatly appreciates the greetings of the Evangelical community, which he said is always at the forefront of well-wishers on all occasions.

Eid El-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, is one of two major religious holidays in Islam, along with Eid Al-Adha.

Egypt's cabinet has designated the period between 30 April and 5 May a paid holiday for public employees, extending from Labour Day, which falls on 1 May, to the end of Eid El-Fitr holidays.