Pope Francis with Al-Azhar Grand Imam – via BBC

Top Headlines

• Pope Francis visits Egypt to promote “unity and fraternity”
• Egypt’s Coptic pope signs agreement with Pope Francis on baptism recognition
• A Swiss court ordered Egyptian naturalgas companies to pay Israel $2 billion in fines for breach of previous contract
• IMF delegation to review Egypt’s austerity program
• Province of Sinai claims responsibility for attack targeting Tarabin tribesmen
• Cairo slams US senate hearing suggesting a ‘review’ of aid to Egypt

 Main Headlines

Monday

• An Egyptian court upheld death sentences against 20 suspected Islamists convicted of murder of 15 during an attack on a police station in 2013
• Egyptian MP Sahar El-Hawari is moved to Damanhour prison following conviction in false bankruptcy case
• Number of tourists visiting Egypt during the first quarter of 2017 rose by 51 % compared to the same period last year
• Egypt’s Pope Tawadros meets with Kuwaiti emir on an official visit

 Tuesday

• Islamic State car bomb kills 4 tribesmen in Egypt’s Sinai
• Pope Francis refuses bullet proof vehicle for Egypt trip
• Pope Francis says he is grateful to visit ‘gift of the Nile’ in an address to Egyptians ahead of upcoming visit
• Egypt eases restrictions on importation and burning of coal, environmentalists warn of implications

Wednesday

• ‘Our strategic goal is to preserve the Egyptian state,’ Sisi tells youth conference
• Egypt’s parliament passes controversial judicial authority law
• Egypt’s Army Chief of Staff Hegazy meets commander of US Fifth Fleet in Cairo
• Spain holds Egyptian, Spaniard with suspected links to Islamic State
• Egypt imposes tariff on exports of fish

 Thursday

• Cairo slams US senate hearing suggesting a ‘review’ of aid to Egypt
• Muslim, Christian clerics call for peace and coexistence during Al-Azhar international gathering during Al-Azhar international gathering
• A Swiss court ordered Egyptian naturalgas companies to pay Israel’s state-owned electricity provider $2 billion in fines for breach of previous contract
• Second field army foils militants’ attempt to establish checkpoint in Rafah
• Egypt drops 2 places on World Press Freedom Index
• Germany probes abuse of fatally injured Egyptian woman after car accident
• Sisi promotes air defence, naval commanders
• Egypt to introduce electronic visa in June

Friday

• Pope Francis visits Egypt to promote “unity and fraternity”
• Pope Francis visits bombed Coptic Cathedral
• Egypt’s Coptic pope signs agreement with Pope Francis on baptism recognition
• Pope in Egypt: Catholics and Copts recognise shared baptism

Saturday

• Pope Francis at Cairo mass: live lives ablaze with charity
• Pope Francis leaves Egypt, underlining calls for tolerance and respect for dignity and rights
• Egypt’s Sisi meets withAbbas in Cairo
• President Sisi ratifies controversial judicial authority law

Sunday

• IMF delegationto review Egypt’s austerity program
• Italy deports Egyptian linkedto Berlin truck attacker
• Chairman of Suez Canal Authority Mamish to take charge of Suez Economic Zone, replacing Ahmed Darwish
• Public satisfaction with Egypt’s parliament drops to 30 percent, down 5 points on last year: Baseera poll

Good Reports

• Pope Francis in Egypt: “No to every form of violence.”Sarah Sirgany and Joe Sterling
• The Pope’s perilous mission to Egypt to Egypt. Daniel Burke
• Faith, politics clash as Egypt’s Al-Azhar is pressed to reform. AFP
• Who are Egypt’s Coptic Christians? The Associated Press
• In search of Egypt’s Catholics. Dina Ezzat
• Popes Francis and Tawadros’ baptism declaration: Positive step, but not full solution. Hadeer Al-Mahdaway
• Egypt plans to promote religious, medical and luxury trips in a 2-year tourism recovery plan. Deena Kamel
• Province of Sinai claims responsibility for attack targeting Tarabin tribesmen. Mai Shams El-Din

Good Read

• Pope Francis scores on multiple fronts as visit to Egypt ends. Gerard O’Connell

From Twitter

Plus

• Relive: Pope Francis’s visit to Cairo
• Pope Francis addresses Egypt’s civil authorities: Full text
• Pope Francis’ full speech to the Coptic Pope
•  Joint statement by Pope Francis and Tawadros II

• Pope Francis defies traditions during Egypt visit, speaks Arabic 8 times

Finally here are Jayson Casper’s prayers for Egypt