Coptic Catholic patriarch welcomes fall of Mubarak

Cardinal Antonios Naguib, patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church, has issued a declaration welcoming the fall of the regime of Hosni Mubarak.

“The Egyptian Catholic Church joins all Egypt's loyal citizens to thank God enormous for the wonderful success he granted to the daring youth of the January 25 movement,” he said. “Thanks are due to the crowds of patriotic youth who aggravated the spark from which this movement started off and became an erupting volcano that cannot be extinguished and that gathered all the forces that refuse the wrong situation scheming the country for so long, by looking forward to a better and brighter future for the Egyptian civilization, and meeting around one cause which is the love of Egypt and the self-respect of its citizens.”

“This experience has shaped a reality that was absent for so long, which is the unity of the citizens, the youth and the old, Christians and Muslims, without any distinction or discrimination, in purpose and action for the good of Egypt, and for the protection and safety in the country,” he added. “We are convinced that these feelings that reigned in the hearts will last for the near and distant future.”

“We want Egypt to have its location among the modern countries,” he continued. “A civil country, a democratic one based on laws, justice and equality, that respects one’s freedom and dignity based only on the citizenship, allows contribution for all categories without reducing persons and categories to one member, and achieves what the analysts, politicians and intellectuals have called for in order to prevent divisions that caused bend in all the fields. Here they are the loyal Egyptians ready for making all efforts for the good of the dear nation. And the Catholic Church with all its institutions will work with them in reconstructing and happening along this path for a better future.”