Pope Shenouda thanks President for agreeing to construction of new church in Mokattam

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Shenouda III lauded the climate of religious freedom and tolerance in Egypt and thanked President Hosni Mubarak for agreeing to the construction of Coptic Orthodox Church in the suburb of Mokattam.

This affirms the spirit of brotherhood between Egypt's Christians and Muslims and refutes claims by some on limits imposed by the government on the construction of new churches in Egypt, sources from st. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral said Saturday.

An old law from the ottoman times regulating the construction of new churches in Egypt no longer exists in practical terms, they added.

"The families of Mokattam were really in need of a church and were very pleased to hear the news," they said.