Cairo, 2 March 2026
CCMUP, affiliated with the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt, organized an interfaith Ramadan Iftar on the evening of Monday, 2 March 2026, at the All Saints’ Episcopal/Anglican Cathedral in Zamalek, Cairo. The event was held under the patronage of Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Alexandria, and was attended by a distinguished gathering of religious leaders, public figures, press, civil society and members of the diplomatic corps.
In his welcoming address, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy emphasized that the gathering embodied the authentic spirit of national partnership among Egyptians. “I warmly welcome you to this fraternal Iftar organized by the Episcopal Church in cooperation with CCMUP,” he said. “We are delighted by your presence, as we are genuine partners in serving both: our nation and humanity. At times like these, our moral responsibility deepens to be a voice for love and peace. God calls us to love, not hatred, and to unity in purpose and heart, to love our nation sincerely and to serve humanity faithfully.” He concluded by praying that God would protect Egypt and fill the hearts of its people and its land with peace.
For his part, Bishop Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, CCMUP Director, welcomed attendees, noting that gathering Muslims and Christians around one table reflects the bright and enduring image of Egyptian society, founded upon love and mutual complementarity. He outlined the Centre’s three principal areas of work:
First, the Program of Christian and Islamic Studies, which brings together students from Al-Azhar University and theological colleges in constructive academic dialogue;
Second, the Program of Community Initiatives, which promotes joint action and community service in a spirit of cooperation;
Third, the Program of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, dedicated to fostering a culture of dialogue and building bridges across diverse segments of society.
Bishop Dr. Mouneer highlighted the support provided by the Centre’s Board of Trustees in advancing its vision and mission, describing the Centre as a unique institutional model of cooperation between the Episcopal/Anglican Church and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. He further noted that over the past year, the Centre organized a number of “Learning Journeys” and specialized training courses in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. He expressed gratitude to all who have supported these initiatives, which strengthen national unity, and commended the Centre’s staff for their dedicated efforts.
Speaking on behalf of His Eminence Professor Dr. Nazir Ayyad, Grand Mufti of the Republic, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awady affirmed that the values of cooperation constitute a cornerstone of Islamic teaching, citing the Qur’anic verse: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety.” He stressed that national and religious occasions in Egypt offer meaningful opportunities to deepen bonds of sincere affection among its people. He added that mutual respect and pride in national and religious symbols reflect the profound ties uniting Egyptians, praying that God may perpetuate blessings and peace upon Egypt.
Similarly, Dr. Yasser Al-Ghayati, representing His Excellency Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Awqaf, underscored that Egyptians have long transformed their occasions into inclusive gatherings that reflect deeply rooted values of love and fraternity. He observed that diversity is a divine principle intended for complementarity rather than division. “We believe that God created us different so that we may complete one another,” he said, “and that human relationships must be grounded in affection and mutual respect.” He thanked the organizers for their gracious invitation and for the spirit of love and harmony that characterized the evening.
The Iftar was attended by prominent religious, diplomatic, civil society and public figures, including: Rev. Moussa Tamer, representing His Grace Anba Armia, General Bishop and President of the Coptic Cultural Centre; Bishop Kuan Kim Seng, from Singapore; Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo, Archbishop of Sudan; Ambassador Peter Mollema of the Netherlands; Mr. Thomas Bellow, Deputy Ambassador of Ireland; Ambassador Lars Bo Moller of Denmark; Ambassador Dominic Goh of Singapore; Mr. Amir Zaini, Religious Attaché of the Malaysian Embassy; Ms. Sarah Hughes of the Swiss Embassy; Ms. Ayaka Ogata of the Japanese Embassy; H.E. Ibrahim Fawzy, former Minister of Industry and member of the Centre’s Board of Trustees; Counselor Adly Hussein, former Governor of Qalyubia; Ambassador Raouf Saad, former Assistant Foreign Minister; Dr. Ismail Abdallah, Professor at Al-Azhar University; artist Dr. Farid Fadel; writer and political analyst Amr El-Shobaky; Dr. Joseph Cumming, Director of the Woodberry Institute for Interfaith Dialogue; and Dr. Sameh Fawzy, member of the Centre’s Board of Trustees.
Members of the Centre’s executive team were also present, including Rev. Dr. Matthew Andersen, Director of Academic Studies; Rev. Samir Dawoud, Director of Community Initiatives; Ms. Nermeen Shenouda, Financial Director; Ms. Ayat Abdel Aziz, Peacebuilding Project Coordinator; and Mr. Kareem Gerges, Director of International Partnerships.
This interfaith Ramadan Iftar forms part of the Centre’s ongoing mission to cultivate a culture of dialogue, promote shared inclusive citizenship, and build bridges of trust and cooperation among the diverse components of Egyptian society, contributing to social stability and lasting peace.
