His remarks were delivered at the opening of the sixth international conference of the World Council of Churches (WCC), held on Friday morning at the Logos Centre in the Papal Residence at St. Bishoy Monastery.
The gathering brought together some 500 representatives from over 100 countries. The opening session featured addresses from WCC leaders and delegates of member churches and was attended by the Governor of Beheira, Dr Jacqueline Azar.
In his welcoming remarks, Pope Tawadros II greeted the participants and the broader fellowship of the Coptic Orthodox Church, describing Wadi El-Natrun as “a sacred land that has nurtured and inspired monastic life since the fourth century AD.”
Reflecting on the Church’s early trials, he recalled the Arian controversy, which once threatened the unity of the Christian faith. He cautioned against “the perils of private interpretation and teaching conducted apart from the foundations — the Holy Gospel and the wisdom of the Church Fathers.”
He underscored the enduring significance of the First Council of Nicaea, noting that it “affirmed the divine unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” thereby establishing the theological bedrock of Christian doctrine and offering a lasting model for ecumenical engagement.
Describing the Council as “a cornerstone in the history of Christian theological thought,” the Pope observed that the present WCC conference provides “an occasion to reflect upon the Church’s faithfulness in safeguarding the Nicene tradition and in renewing its mission within a world characterised by intellectual variety and cultural plurality.”
Turning to the theme of Christian unity, Pope Tawadros emphasised that “true unity is unity of faith,” manifested in full communion in the divine sacraments — “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). He acknowledged that such unity is difficult to attain yet insisted that it remains possible only “through sustained theological dialogue.”
He invited the participants to deepen their understanding of the Coptic Orthodox Church — “an ancient Church that has preserved its apostolic faith and profound patristic heritage, a faith sanctified by the blood of martyrs and guarded with fidelity across the centuries.”
He further encouraged guests to discover Egypt itself — “the land of St Mark’s preaching, where the Christian faith took root at its dawn, and where monasticism and theological reflection were born.” Egypt, he affirmed, “continues to offer the world a living witness of steadfast faith and universal charity.”
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