Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, joined Pope Francis for the first time last week during his General Audience.

“It is with great joy that I welcomed today His Holiness Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, beloved brother and dear friend, with whom I celebrated the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Pope St. Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III,” the pope said in a tweet after Wednesday’s meeting. 

It was the first time another pope had spoken during the General Audience. The occasion also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the historic Joint Christological Declaration signed by St. Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, according to the Vatican News. 

Ten years had passed since Pope Tawadros II had set foot in St. Peter's Square, but his last visit was also one to remember. He proposed that May 10 should be designated as the "Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship," a suggestion that left a lasting impact. From that day on, Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II have made it a tradition to connect via phone every year on that date, a testament to the bond between their two Churches, the Vatican News said. 

"Dear friend and brother Tawadros, thank you for accepting my invitation on this dual anniversary, and I pray that the light of the Holy Spirit may illuminate your visit to Rome, the important meetings you will have here, and in particular our personal conversations,” Pope Francis said during the ceremony. "I thank you from my heart for your commitment to the growing friendship between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church."

May 1973 marked a significant moment in history as Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church came together for a momentous meeting, the first of its kind in over a millennium. During the historic encounter, they put an end to a long-standing Christological disagreement and forged an agreement between the Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches, the report said.

“Despite the differences in our roots and affiliations,” Pope Tawadros said, according to the Vatican News report, “we are united by the love of Christ who dwells within us, and the host of our Apostolic Fathers and saints which surrounds and guides us.”