His Holiness Pope Shenouda III spoke about the Coptic Church’s experience in caring for its children abroad, explaining how the service began with only seven churches and grew to more than 150, driven by the desire to preserve faith, identity, and national belonging.

Second: Challenges Facing Emigrants
He emphasized that the greatest danger facing our children abroad is the loss of Egyptian and ecclesiastical identity, especially in the second and third generations. He also discussed issues such as illegal residency, difficulty finding work due to unrecognized certificates, and the differences in social and family laws between Egypt and Western countries.

Third: Language and Cultural Belonging
The Pope affirmed that losing the Arabic language means losing connection with cultural and Coptic heritage. He called for teaching Arabic while translating church books into local languages, explaining that church services are now held in multiple languages.

Fourth: Moral and Intellectual Challenges
His Holiness discussed the misuse of freedom and the influence of Western values on youth, warning against moral and intellectual corruption. He taught that freedom must be bounded by law and God’s commandments and stressed the importance of spiritual guidance to help youth face temptations and foreign ideologies.

Fifth: Pride in Egyptian Identity
He encouraged Egyptians abroad to be proud of their homeland and civilization, recalling Egypt’s ancient scientific and spiritual contributions. He also suggested that Egyptian embassies use national heritage to represent Egypt positively abroad.

Sixth: Call for Cooperation and Pastoral Care
The Pope concluded by calling for cooperation between state institutions and the Church to support Egyptians abroad, remove fear of consulates, and strengthen both spiritual and national ties with the motherland.

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