(Jan. 09, 2013) Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his spiritual nearness and prayers
to the Congregation of the Egyptian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Alexandria,
Egypt, for the centenary of their foundation. The Pope’s wishes were conveyed
by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of Vatican’s Congregation for Oriental Churches.
The prelate, who is on a visit to Egypt Jan 6-11 expressed his joy to celebrate the
Divine liturgy or Mass in the Coptic-rite for the nuns on Tuesday. In his homily,
Cardinal Sandri praised the Congregation for its 100 year presence and zealous
apostolate to the people, including Christians and Muslims, without any discrimination.
He said the Congregation’s centenary celebration take place while the Universal
Church is celebrating the Year of Faith, and this coincidence makes us understand
that no work of charity could last long without the continued support of the Faith.
Noting that the society of today is different from that of a century ago, Cardinal
Sandri exhorted the nuns to welcome the Lord today as in the past, in all the poor
and needy they meet on the streets of the world with the same dedication and commitment.
Later on Tuesday, Cardinal Sandri met Pope Tawadros II, the new Head of the Coptic
Orthodox Church of Egypt, in a monastery outside Cairo.