Posted on 05/10/2013 4:50:09 PM PDT by haffast
VATICAN CITY (AP) Two popes prayed together Friday at the Vatican, one Catholic and one Orthodox, in a sign of improving ties following the election of new leaders for both churches.
Pope Francis welcomed the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, Pope Tawadros II, in the first such meeting at the Vatican in 40 years, saying his visit "strengthens the bonds of friendship and brotherhood" between the two churches.
The Coptic and Catholic churches split in the fifth century over theocratic differences.
Christians comprise about 10 percent of Egypt's population. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt counts about 10 million faithful, while the Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt whose faithful are loyal to Pope Francis counts about 165,000.
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(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The AP has "theocracy" on the brain. Presumably the fool who wrote this did not know the word "theological."
Justifying my tagline, once again.
Christos Anesti!
Great photos in the article. Don’t know if it’s allowed to post in FR.
The Great Schism took place in 1054
Pope Francis could act right now and maybe save the lives of thousands or tens of thousands of Copts.
There are countless Roman Catholics who are military and civilian security advisers. If the Vatican could arrange with Egypt for a large contingent of such advisers to visit with the Copts, to teach them how to protect themselves from the chaos which surrounds them, this advice could be worth its weight in gold.
The contingent could also discreetly bring satellite communications equipment, that could be used to send out an international plea for help if the situation suddenly turns violent.
The bottom line is that the Copts desperately need information and training, even a small amount of which might prevent a terrible massacre.
My bad.....”The Oriental Orthodox churches, which include the Copts, split from the Catholic church in the 5th century AD, following a doctrinal dispute over the nature of Christ, and particularly about how his human and divine natures were related.”
Deus lo vult!
The split with the Copts happened 5 centuries before 1054.
It’s the 5th century Nestorian heresy what caused the split . . . A charge the Copts vigoriously deny. I think the two sides are banging it out as to mutually acceptable language.
All who follow the risen Christ must unite in the face of the Islamic foe. We must ban together or be run over by the savage iron wheels of the Juggernaut of Islam.
I think we’re witnessing it.
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