# Coptic Orthodox Church reports Pope Tawadros II visits Diocese of Beba, El-Fashn, and Sumusta The visit marks the final stop of the Pope's pastoral tour of Upper Egypt, the church said. By the Egypt Desk of Coptic News. - Published: 13 October 2026, 17:58 New York time (2026-10-13T21:58:45+00:00) The Coptic Orthodox Church said on 19 September 2026 that Pope Tawadros II visited the Church of St. Mercurius Abu Sefein and the Forty-Nine Martyrs, Elders of Scetis, in Fabriqa, Beba. This visit was part of a tour of the Diocese of Beba, El-Fashn, and Sumusta, which served as the fourth and final stop of the Pope's current pastoral tour of Upper Egypt. Pope Tawadros II said: "I am very happy to visit this beautiful Diocese and to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the ordination of His Grace Anba Estefanos." During the journey from the Church of Karmat El-Shohada in El-Fashn to the church in Fabriqa, residents of villages between El-Fashn and Beba lined the road. The church said large numbers of Muslim residents came out to welcome the Pope, describing him as a prominent national figure and the guest of their hometown. Upon arrival at the church, the Pope was received by priests, and a deacons' choir chanted traditional welcome hymns. Metropolitan Youannes, the Metropolitan of Assiut and Secretary of the Holy Synod, delivered an address and recalled the words of St. Paul the Apostle from 2 Corinthians 3:2 to affirm that the Pope loves the children of the church as a father, according to the church. Bishop Estefanos, Bishop of the Diocese of Beba and El-Fashn, cited Philippians 1:26 and noted that people rejoice in Christ Jesus through the presence of Pope Tawadros II. ## Sources 1. [H.H. Pope Tawadros II Visits the Church of St. Mercurius Abu Sefein and the Forty-Nine Martyrs, Elders of Scetis, in Fabriqa, Beba](), Coptic Orthodox Church. Published 2026-09-19. Accessed 2026-10-13. --- - Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - Canonical URL: https://coptic-news.com/2026/10/coptic-orthodox-church-reports-pope-tawadros-ii-visits-diocese-of-beba-el/