Archbishop Fitzgerald: New Egypt an opportunity for Christians

About 2,000 Egyptians defied soldiers who tried to disperse a protest overnight in Cairo's
Tahrir Square and today vowed to keep demonstrating until former President Hosni Mubarak was tried and other demands met. At least two people died overnight in clashes between demonstrators and soldiers. The rally was a show of the increasing impatience that many Egyptians feel toward the military, which took over when Mubarak was forced out of office on February 11.

Elections to form a new government are expected in September, which many, including leaders of Egypt’s large Christian minority, fear could give power the country’s militant Muslim Brotherhood.

“I don’t think we should analyze this from a sectarian point of view,” says Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt. “The January 25^th revolution is an opportunity which has been given, not only to Christians, but to all citizens of Europe. And I think that’s the way to see it. It’s Christians and Muslims who are concerned as citzens.”

He says he understands the concern over the Muslim Brotherhood.

“We are in a period of transition, so it is marked by both uncertainty and hope,” he said. “Of course there is apprehension, and to certain extent this apprehension is justified, but I think this should spur on Christians to greater effort. I am happy to see that within the Church, and certainly within the Catholic Church, considerable attention is being given to political education of Christians now, helping them to understand the issues for shaping the new Egypt.”

Listen to the full interview by Stefan von Kempis with Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald: