Pope Francis received an official invitation from the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit the country.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, returned to Cairo after a pastoral care visit to Jordan.

Coptic diocese in Samalout said the building of the first alter on the name of the 21 Coptic martyrs in Libya has completed.

Vatican Radio announced that said that Middle East Council of Churches discusses helping refugees and victims of civil wars.

Dr. Andrea Zaki, head of the Anglican Communion, said that Copts of Egypt refused any outside interference in their internal affairs. He added that we are in bad need for a new religious discourse and not only renew the old one. Such religious discourse should talk about coexistence and equal citizenship.

Coptic children accused of contempt of Islam said the trials in Egypt were unfair, and it was ridicules to face such trials and imprisonment for five years for 30 seconds video that criticize ISIS.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, said before the general assembly of the Council of Churches of the Middle East in Jordan that Muslims and Christians should work together in order to spread love and peace in the Middle East.

Ihab Ramzy, Lawyer of children accused of contempt of Islam, said the children were not included on travel ban lists, and decided to flee after they were convicted.

Abba Daniel, Bishop of Maadi, received foreign minister of Switzerland at the Great Cathedral of St. Mark in Abbasya, during his current visit to Egypt.

New York Times published a report about the Copts who are still suffering in Egypt according to the American newspaper.

Emad Gad, Coptic MP, said that the new law of building churches is better than the current system in Egypt. He added that the law has many defaults, but is still better than the current situation. However, we still have to see how it will be applied and should try to spread culture of coexistence, citizenship and tolerance.

During his visit to Amman, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, met with King Abdullah on Sunday at the royal palace in Amman.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decree to build the church of St. Philopatir in New Cairo. The decision was published in the official newspaper.

Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church announced that Coptic Orthodox churches will hold compulsory courses for newly married couple in various dioceses.

Abba Makarios, Bishop of Minya, said that law of building churches is good, but Copts can’t trust the officials who will give them permissions to build the churches.

Coptic MP Nadia Henry said that refusing to vote on the law was kind of irresponsibility and accused the parliament and the government of ignoring equal citizenship among the Egyptians.

Sharif Shobashy, Egyptian writer, said that according to an official inventory conducted in 2011, there are 2869 churches in Egypt while there are more than 108000 mosque.

The monastery of St. Bishoy in Wadi Natrun said it produced a film about Pope Shenouda III. The film is directed by Albir Makram and was written by several bishops and monks who knew Pope Shenouda.

The British Embassy in Cairo announced to start joint research with Egyptian in the field of cultural heritage. 300,000 £ will be offered for the partnership in the field of archeology and cultural heritage with universities, research centers, museums and NGOs.

Majdi Agati, Minister of Legal Affairs, said the parliament will discuss and pass the draft law of the law of building churches this week.

Pope held meeting with several bishops, priests and university professors to discuss ecclesiastical education. The meeting was held for 4 hours in the presence of bishops Raphael, Bishoy , Thomas and Serapion.