Interview With Patriarch Antonios Naguib
By
Michaela Koller
ROME, MARCH 30, 2010, thanks to Zenit.org
The slaying of six Orthodox Christians leaving a Christmas Eve Mass in Egypt
has wounded Christians’ sense of national identity, and interreligious dialogue
at official levels needs to filter down to ordinary people.
These are observations made by the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria, Antonios
Naguib. Coptic Catholics in Egypt number about 200,000; the majority of Coptic
Christians in Egypt are Orthodox. Patriarch Antonios is the leader of the
Catholic Copts. He is today celebrating his fourth anniversary in that role.
ZENIT spoke with the 75-year-old patriarch about the situation faced by
Catholics in Egypt, and particularly the challenge of a growing Islamic
fanaticism.
ZENIT: At the end of February, a delegation from the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue made a visit to Cairo. The delegates were received by
the Grand Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, (who died suddenly this month of a
heart attack). What is the situation of interreligious dialogue in Egypt?
Patriarch Antonios: On Feb. 23 and 24, the Commission of the Pontifical Council
for Interreligious Dialogue came to Cairo to meet with the Commission of
El-Azhar. These meetings take place regularly, one year in Rome and one year in
Cairo.
This is the official structure of interreligious dialogue between the Vatican
and Islam in Egypt.
Other local entities try to reinforce the ties between the Muslims and
Christians in the country. The leaders of the religious communities visit one
another on the great feasts.
However, we feel the need to intensify these relations, especially to extend
them to the base, that is, to ordinary people .
This is the only way to extend acceptance of the other and fraternity, and to
oppose fanaticism and extremism.
ZENIT: Commenting on the slaying of Christians in Nag Hammadi during the Copts’
celebration of Christmas, a Muslim said that the killers were not Muslims even
if they called themselves Muslims. Moderate Muslims condemned that crime. But
what is the perception of Copts? Do they see this as an isolated incident or do
they fear an increasingly hostile climate?
Patriarch Antonios: I am happy to hear this evaluation by a Muslim. It’s true
that moderate Muslims have condemned the crime.
There are many Muslim writers that have written very good, objective articles.
They have asked that the true causes of fanaticism and extremism, especially
the educational, cultural and religious causes, be attacked.
In regard to the Copts, this crime was a hard blow that has wounded their sense
of belonging t o the country and of fraternity.
Many consider it a confessional act. But the wisest see in this result an
ensemble of factors that engender and fuel fanaticism, the same factors
mentioned by the wise Muslim thinkers.
ZENIT: There is talk of the construction of a new church in the center of
Cairo. Are there obstacles for the construction of this church?
Patriarch Antonios: There is no law that prohibits the construction of a
church. But there are procedures and requirements. Responses to requests for
construction take a long time.
There is a unified draft law for the construction of places of worship. It has
been presented in Parliament and will be studied.
ZENIT: Will you take part in the special synod for the Middle East? If so, what
will be your message in the synod?
Patriarch Antonios: All the bishops of the Middle East will participate in the
special synod.
Th e theme of the synod suggests its principal message: witness and communion.
Our first mission in our countries is carried out through the witness of life,
among ourselves and with our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters.
And for our witness to be authentic and credible, it must flow from a life of
communion, in every Catholic church and between the different Catholic
Churches.
We must also find ways of living and reinforcing this communion with the other
Christian Churches and with our fellow Muslim and Jewish citizens.
ZENIT: The number of [Muslim] women wearing the veil has increased a lot over
the last 20 years. Is this a sign of social evolution in which we should see
the establishment of a fundamentalist system? What do you think are the causes
of this evolution?
Patriarch Antonios: Your observation is exact. At present there are very few
Muslim women who do not wear the veil. The niqab [the veil that covers the
whole face except for the eyes] is also frequently used.
I believe this evolution is the result of the influence of Wahhabite Islam in
the country. The phenomenon began with the residence of Egyptian workers in the
Gulf countries, and it spread rapidly, became reinforced and generalized.
It has become a social phenomenon, which imposes itself also in more moderate
and open families. But the fact also indicates an increase of fanaticism.
ZENIT: What is the situation of the Christian media in Arabic? Are there also
Christian films?
Patriarch Antonios: In Egypt, there are several Christian Arabic-language
media. There are some magazines and newspapers belonging to different Churches.
Lebanon was the only country of the Middle East that had Christian broadcasting
radio stations. Tele Lumiere also launched a television channel, Noursat, which
is being increasingly developed.
At present there are several television channels in Arabic. The Coptic Orthodox
Church in Egypt has three.
This Church has initiated a series of religious films that are very successful
among Coptic Christians.