Scottish Catholic Observer

As political unrest in Egypt reaches breaking point, local bishops have made pleas for prayers and that an end be brought to the violence engulfing the nation.

With widespread unrest and protests continuing on the streets of Egyptian towns and cities, the country’s army has been holding talks with government and protest leaders, as the deadline it set for a resolution passed.

Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi—the country’s first Islamist president—has already rejected an ultimatum to ‘meet the demands of the people’ or face military intervention. A petition opposing Mr Morsi and calling for early presidential elections has attracted up to 20 million signatures, outnumbering votes cast for Mr Morsi in last year’s presidential elections, which were held following the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Bishop Kyrillos William of Assiut said ‘we are here to serve all people and ask our friends at Aid to the Church in Need to please pray for us.’

“We trust in Christ, we love Christ and trust that Christ will help us—and we really appreciate, at this time, the prayers of all our friends,” Bishop William said.

Having spoken to Bishop Johannes Zakaria in Luxor earlier this week, Neville Kyrke-Smith ACN’s UK director, was asked to convey the message that the Church was praying for peace and for all citizens of Egypt regardless of religion.

“We are praying for everyone,” Bishop Zakaria said. “We are not against Muslims, we are for everyone. The Muslims are my friends and we pray for all, for the people of Egypt… we pray for our brothers and sisters that we may pray in peace and live in faith.

“We pray, in this continuing time of anxiety for all the peoples of Egypt, for a way forward through what seems to be becoming another revolution and we pray that there will be no more bloodshed, no more violence.”