Apr. 28, 2017
Pope Francis’s recent trip to Egypt was marked by a surprise announcement.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/pope-francis-and-coptic-pope-agree-not-re-baptize
In a joint declaration signed on Friday, April 28, Pope Francis and Coptic Pope
Tawadros ii agreed that they would not require rebaptism for Roman Catholics
who seek to join the Coptic Orthodox Church, and vice versa.
The Roman Catholic Church baptizes by sprinkling and the Coptic Orthodox
baptizes by immersion, but this declaration opens the way for the two churches
to recognize each other’s baptism sacrament.
“We, with one mind and heart, will seek sincerely not to repeat the baptism
that has been administered in either of our churches for any person who
wishes to join the other,” declared the two popes.
“This we confess in obedience to the Holy Scriptures.”
This declaration carries special significance.
Both Catholics and Copts teach that a person can only be baptized once.
Requiring someone to be rebaptized implies his or her original baptism was
invalid. Recognizing a shared baptism implies a belief that both churches
are part of one body, regardless of lingering doctrinal differences.
This declaration comes 44 years after Pope Paul vi met with Coptic Pope
Shenouda iii in 1973—the first meeting between a Catholic and Coptic pope
Historic Meeting between Pope Francis and Coptic Patriarch, Tawadros II, Fosters Christian Unity - Europe - International - News - Catholic Online
since the two churches officially split in a.d. 451.
Who Are Egypt's Coptic Christians And What Do They Believe? | HuffPost
Relations between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Church have improved
dramatically over the past several years as both churches have faced a rising
threat from Islamic extremism across the Middle East and North Africa.
“Today, there’s the ecumenism of blood,”
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-calls-anti-christian-violence-ecumenism-blood
Pope Francis told an Italian reporter in December 2013.