CAIRO – 8 January 2022: There is no point in banning the visits of Copts to Jerusalem at the moment, as such decision has weakened Coptic presence in the holy city, Pope Tawadros II of Egypt aid Friday. He said a Coptic bishop in Jerusalem is important for Egyptians, and that he stayed in Jerusalem for four days after the passing of Bishop Abraham in 2015. After that, Coptic visits to Jerusalem increased slightly, according to Pope Tawadros. Egyptian popes have sided with the ban over the years, although Coptic pilgrimage to Jerusalem have never entirely ceased. During Easter of every year, hundreds of Copts travel to the holy city, albeit after security permits in Egypt.

Source: Libya Today January 08, 2022 15:28 UTC