Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II has inaugurated the first Coptic Orthodox church in Japan on a visit to the city of Kyoto.
The church was established in 2016 to serve Egyptian, Ethiopian and Eritrean members of the church, which has an estimated 25 million members worldwide.
“The church doesn’t know geographical borders; we will look after Copts anywhere in the world,” said Pope Tawadros, the first Coptic pope to visit Japan.
The inauguration was attended by clergy including Coptic Bishop Daniel of the Sydney diocese in Australia, and the Egyptian ambassador to Tokyo, Ismail Khairat.
“This visit comes in line with the Egyptian state’s aim to bolster ties with Japan,” said Egyptian journalist Sameh Mahrous.
“The establishment of a Coptic church in Japan strengthens the Egyptian state’s presence over there.”
Pope Tawadros begins a week-long visit to Australia on Thursday.