The Vatican announced on Monday that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
The pontiff had been battling pneumonia and other serious health complications and had been hospitalized multiple times since February.
Tributes poured in from across
Egypt. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi described the Pope’s passing as “a profound loss to humanity,” praising him as “a voice for peace, love, and compassion.”
Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Islamic learning, mourned him as “an exceptional figure of humanity.”
Historic visit to Egypt
Pope Francis made a landmark visit to Egypt in April 2017—the first papal visit since Pope John Paul II in 2000.
During a joint press conference with President El-Sisi, Pope Francis spoke in Arabic, using phrases such as "Egypt, the mother of the world" and "Egypt proves that religion belongs to God, and the homeland belongs to all."
“We consider your historic visit to Egypt today, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and the Vatican, as a message that highlights the deep bond of mutual respect and appreciation,” El-Sisi said at the time.
During the trip, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Cairo’s Air Defense Stadium before thousands of Egyptian Catholics. Yellow and white balloons—symbolizing the Vatican flag—were released with images of the Pope and the slogan “The Pope of Peace in Egypt, Peace.”
File Photo: Pope Francis is surrounded by security as he rides an uncovered Popemobile before the start of a mass at a stadium in Cairo. AFP
Strong bond with Al-Azhar
File Photo: Pope Francis (R) and Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, embrace as the Pope arrives at the prestigious Sunni institution in Cairo. AFP
One of the most significant aspects of Pope Francis’s legacy in Egypt was his deep and historic relationship with Al-Azhar and its Grand Imam, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb.
Their first meeting in Cairo marked the first-ever visit by a Roman Catholic Pope to Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s oldest and most prestigious institution.
The Pope later hosted El-Tayeb twice at the Vatican, in 2018 and 2019.
In February 2019, the two leaders met in Abu Dhabi and co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity, a milestone in interreligious dialogue.
The document, which Al-Azhar described as “one of the most important texts in the history of Islam-Christian relations,” called for global peace, religious coexistence, and mutual understanding.
They met again in November 2022 during the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue, further cementing their spiritual partnership.
Upon hearing of Pope Francis’s passing, Grand Imam El-Tayeb said, “The world has lost a distinguished humanitarian figure—our dear friend Pope Francis—who dedicated his life to serving humanity.”
Bridges with the Coptic Orthodox Church
Pope Francis also cultivated a close and respectful relationship with Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church and its leader, Pope Tawadros II.
The two met in May 2013, shortly after assuming their respective roles, marking the first visit by a Coptic Orthodox pope to the Vatican in four decades.
That meeting revived the tradition of annual commemorations of Coptic-Catholic Friendship Day on 10 May—a tradition initiated during that visit.
Their collaboration deepened in 2017, when Pope Francis returned the gesture by visiting the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo, where the two popes signed a joint declaration recognizing each other’s baptisms.
In 2023, the two reunited at the Vatican to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic 1973 meeting between Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III.
Standing in a rainy St. Peter’s Square, the two prayed together before hundreds of pilgrims.
“We call each other on the phone, send greetings, and remain good brothers,” Pope Francis reflected. “We have not quarrelled.”
File Photo: Pope Francis with Coptic Pope Tawadros II during a visit to the St. Peter and St. Paul church in Cairo. AFP
Following his death, the Coptic Orthodox Church described Pope Francis as “a beloved servant and dear brother,” praising his “sincere love” and “true example of Christian humility.”
Egypt’s Catholic Church echoed the sentiment, affirming that his legacy would live on in the hearts of believers.
A consistent voice for Egypt
Pope Francis often demonstrated solidarity with Egypt during times of crisis, particularly after terrorist attacks targeting both Muslims and Christians.
His messages of peace were seen as a balm in moments of national grief.
He also expressed concern about Egypt’s broader geopolitical challenges.
In August 2020, amid rising tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Pope Francis called for cooperation between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, urging them to pursue a peaceful resolution to ensure that the Nile remains “a source of life,” and a symbol of “friendship and not hostility.”
While acknowledging Ethiopia’s development needs, both Egypt and Sudan have long warned that the dam’s unilateral filling — completed between 2020 and 2024 — poses risks to water security and regional stability.
The decade-long negotiations ultimately collapsed in December 2023, with Egypt blaming Ethiopia’s persistent refusal to compromise.
A lasting legacy
As Egypt joins the global community in mourning Pope Francis, his legacy of compassion, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for justice remains visible in his historic visits, his embrace of Al-Azhar and the Coptic Church, and his unwavering support for Egypt’s peace and water security.
His papacy, rooted in love, humility, and human fraternity, has left an indelible mark on Egypt and the wider Arab world.
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