The Institute’s participation in the annual meeting of the Bishopric for Integrated Services (BLESS) with development partners inside and outside Egypt.
Under the patronage and honor of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and his partner in the apostolic service, His Grace the esteemed Bishop Youlios, General Bishop of the Churches of Old Cairo, El-Manial, and Fum El-Khalig, and Bishop of Public, Social, and Ecumenical Services, the annual meeting of the Bishopric of Services and its partner organizations inside and outside Egypt with His Holiness the Pope was held on Monday, November 27, 2023 – 17 Hatour 1740 A.M.
His Holiness received, at the Papal Headquarters in Cairo, His Grace the esteemed Bishop Youlios, General Bishop of Old Cairo and the Bishopric of Public and Social Services, along with the service leaders of the Bishopric and representatives of the partner organizations of the Bishopric of Services from within Egypt, including the Coptic Institute for Church Administration and Development. Representatives of partner organizations from outside Egypt also attended.
During this annual meeting, the new strategy for the Bishopric’s developmental work in the most impoverished communities was presented. His Holiness the Pope also delivered a speech in which he highlighted the values of partnership in development, which fosters humanity through cooperation and the rejection of conflict. He explained that the Coptic Orthodox Church fulfills its spiritual role (the salvation of souls) while also undertaking a societal role as a church that serves the community according to its needs and surrounding circumstances.
His Holiness added: “The primary need of a human being is ‘their need for love’—this is what defines humanity. If we are living in this world, which is now characterized by instability, the loss of human feelings, and the dominance of technology without governing principles, then the solution is for our service to be ‘anointed with love,’ and for a person to express their humanity through love. Just as God loved the world and gave His only Son as a ransom for us, so too must the servant ‘plant love in the service’ so that it is not a dry service. Finally, one must ‘be a cause for the happiness of others.'”
Representatives of partner organizations praised the services provided by the Episcopal Diocese to every person and for all humanity, and the positive impact this has had in meeting the needs of communities.
At the conclusion, His Holiness the Pope distributed souvenirs to the attendees, and commemorative photos were taken.
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