Sisi opens a huge mosque and largest cathedral in the Middle East

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi opened the largest mosque and church in Egypt in the new administrative capital on Sunday, the eve of the Coptic Orthodox celebration of Christmas in a symbolic message of tolerance.

The Egyptian president led the evening prayers at the mosque, accompanied by guest of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Sheikh Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Tayeb and dozens of officials.

The Copts, representing the largest gathering of Christians in the Middle East, will hold a midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity of Christ, described by the Egyptian government as the largest church in the Middle East, in the presence of Sisi.

At a ceremony on the sidelines of the opening, Sisi asked to stand a minute of mourning over the hero of police Major Mustafa Obeid, who was killed while trying to dismantle a bomb placed in front of a church in eastern Cairo.
Pope Twadros II, the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of St. Mark, said: "Today we see this promise and we are witnessing this great opening on this solemn occasion and we thank all the companies that have worked and participated in these buildings. Engineering, which planned, supervised and cared for the completion of this great work in this short period. "

"This new cathedral, which will stand tall next to the new mosque, the Fatha al-Alim mosque, is steadfast in its steadfastness to meet all attempts to tamper with the stability of the country and to stand up to attempts to revive sectarian strife," Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb said.
"He is happy to see our friends in Egypt opening the largest cathedral in the Middle East," said US President Donald Trump, who is happy to open the church.

Pope Benedict also addressed the Egyptian President for his keenness to establish the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ. He said in a recorded speech: "I salute the Pope of Alexandria, the patriarch of the diocese of Saint Mark, and the Coptic Church gave a true testimony of faith and love in the most difficult times."