Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow condemns Egyptian Killings

(October 13, 2011) The Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill I, has appealed to the United Nations and all international organizations to give greater protection to the Christian community in Egypt, where there has been a massacre of Coptic faithful who were demonstrating peacefully in the capital Cairo. The patriarch of Moscow and All Russia said that there should be greater commitment from various nations of the world to respect the dignity and religious freedom of the Coptic Christians in Egypt and to work steadily to restore a climate of peace in the region. On Sunday a protest march in Cairo held to condemn church burnings, turned into a deadly massacre of unarmed Christians by the army and Muslim mobs, leaving at least 24 people dead including at least 17 Christians and 272 injured. The Patriarch in his message urged all to stay together in support of the fellow Christians in Egypt and called on the international community not to remain passive in the face of these brutal acts. The Patriarch then called on the civil authorities in Egypt, asking them to give firm commitment to establish a climate of peace in the country and hope for the future, to ensure total religious freedom. Pope Benedict XVI during the General Audience on Wednesday while condemning the massacre of people in Egypt said that he was profoundly saddened by the deaths and injuries of innocent people attacked by gangs and military personnel. He added that during the country's transition to democracy, all of its citizens and institutions must work together to guarantee the rights of minorities. The prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches Cardinal Leonardo Sandri assured the victims of Sunday's violence in Egypt that Catholics are united with them and standing in solidarity with the Orthodox Coptic Church.