Pope Tawadros did not enter Al-Quds with Israeli visa

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese did not get a visa from Israel to enter al Quds, where he attended the funeral service of Anba Abraham, the Coptic Orthodox Metropolitan Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Near East, who died at the age of 73 on Wednesday.

Contacts have been made with the Palestinian Authority to allow the Pontiff to enter the Holy City without an Israeli visa, the Coptic Orthodox Church said in a statement on Sunday.

There is no need for any speculation , politicization or promotion of the idea of normalization as the Church's stance remains the same, the statement added.

The whole issue should not be placed within a political context, it said.

The only reason for the visit was to attend the funeral, the Church said.

Pope Tawadros has not met with any Palestinian or Israeli official during his stay in al Quds, the church stressed, adding that the Pope's visit to Jerusalem was not arranged through Jordan which would have required a security entry visa.

The pope did not pay any religious or political visits during his stay in al Quds, and he resided at the Coptic Orthodox Patriachate in East Jerusalem, the church said.

The stance of the Coptic Orthodox Church on not going to al Quds before resolving the Palestinian cause remains unchanged as the Egyptian Christians will only enter the Holy city with their Muslim brothers, it noted.

Sources: MENA