joined Christians and
Muslims, who had lived in Egypt for 14 centuries "under one sky, on one
land and breathing the same air."
Tantawi said he had assured the pope that Egyptians, whether Christians or
Muslims, enjoyed equality of rights and duties.
The two men exchanged gifts, the pope receiving a book on al-Azhar's
history and Tantawi a religious painting.
The pope earlier went to the cathedral residence of Coptic Pope Shenouda
III, whose Orthodox church has never recognized papal supremacy in nearly
2,000 years of existence.
Shenouda praised the pope's efforts for peace in the Middle East and
harmony among Christians. "We wish all efforts for Christian unity may go
forward through your help," he said.
Shenouda reminded his guest that Egypt was a holy land, sanctified by the
visit of Jesus and his parents, said to have spent three years in Egypt to
escape King Herod's persecution.
President Hosni Mubarak, who greeted the pope at the airport, called him
"a man of courage, wisdom and tolerance."
In a sign of his increasing frailty the Pope, who once began his foreign
visits by kissing the ground, this time kissed a bowl of Egyptian soil
presented to him by a child.
"We should strive together to fight fanaticism, prejudice and hatred. We
should oppose all discrimination, injustice and double standards if we are
to establish a new viable world order. Your voice on these issues is of
enormous value," Mubarak told his visitor.
Mystical Sinai Moment
The highlight of the pope's visit to Egypt, the first of two tours in the
footsteps of Moses and Jesus, comes Saturday when he will pray at the base
of Mount Sinai.
Friday he is due to say mass at a Cairo sports stadium and hold an
ecumenical meeting of Christian clerics.
He plans to travel to Jordan and visit Holy Land sites ruled by Israel and
the Palestinian Authority from March 20 to 26.
The Pope said his visit to the desert Mount Sinai, where God is said to
have given Moses the Ten Commandments, would be "a moment of intense
prayer for peace and inter-religious harmony."
"Salaam aleikum (Peace be on you)," the Pope said, in the single phrase he
uttered in Arabic during his arrival speech.
About 800 Christian and Muslim school children waved flags and shouted
"Vive Jean-Paul Deux" (long live John Paul II) as the Pope's heavily
guarded motorcade left the airport.
"The pope's visit has created a bond between Christians and Muslims. It's
a nice feeling. There is no difference between Christians and Muslims,"
said Islam Abdel Moneim, 11, a Muslim.
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