Tawadros II: "The Egyptian people have resumed the revolution"

"It's wonderful to see the Egyptian people - through the idea of Tamarod and its youth – taking back their stolen revolution in a peaceful way." During these difficult times in Egypt the Coptic Pope Tawadros II is back tweeting.

Expressing without mincing his words what is his interpretation of what is happening in Cairo and other major cities since Sunday, after the demonstrations that led millions of people into the streets to demand the resignation of President Islamist Mohammed Morsi.

Even last night - a few hours after the press conference during which the army gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the political forces to arrive at a solution that "listens to the voice of the people" - the leadership of the greater Christian Church of Egypt spoke with an equally clear message: "I pay tribute to the big three of Egypt: the people, the army and the youth." It is no secret that the Copts in Egypt were among the most critical of the work of Mohammed Morsi. Last Autumn, representatives of all the Christian Churches resigned at the same time from the Constituent Assembly as a dramatic gesture of protest against the attempts by Islamist forces to mark the Muslim identity of the country. On the contrary Tawadros II - and the other Churches with him - have always insisted on the need to build an Egypt that is truly a home for all. In addition, it is interesting to underline the Coptic Pope in the role being played by young people in protests in recent days: it also appears to show the way of how to really get out of the situation without going back to the Mubarak era.

The uncertainties in Egypt remain great however. And this is known as it was stated in an interview via the website terrasanta.net by the Coptic Catholic patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak, “I hope that there will not be a civil war – commented the Prelate – but there is a risk, because the situation is very confusing. The revolution powered by the young has given people hope, the desire to be able to give a decent life to the Egyptian people, but a year from the election of President Mohammed Morsi, we see the country going backwards, instead of forwards. Certainly there is more freedom compared to the time of Mubarak, more freedom to express criticism but the inexperience of the political leaders and the attempt by the Muslim Brothers to place their men in every corner of the non-elective institutions, has resulted in a strong opposition, a growing anti-Islamic sentiment, and distrust of the people to see that the Muslim Brothers are promising one thing and doing another”.

The millions of people in the streets can largely be explained as well. A crowd inside which the Copts are the protagonists: “They have no fear – explained Sidrak – with the revolution they have discovered their freedom, and they intend to fight with the rest of the population to have a life worth living, a life worthy of a man. There is a certain freedom that is developing, Christians and Muslims are trying to build that very citizenship for which they fought side by side during the revolution”.