Vatican City: Four days after the deadly fire during Sunday Divine Liturgy in Cairo’s Abu Sifine Church, Pope Francis has expressed his “condolences and spiritual closeness” to those affected by the tragedy that left at least 41 people dead including a bishop and several children, the Holy See Press Office reported on August 18, 2022.

“Pope Francis was deeply saddened when he was informed of the recent fire at the Abu Sifine Church that caused the death of so many people, including a number of children and Archbishop Abdul Bahkit,” details the telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and sent to Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II.

Pope Francis entrusts the victims of this tragedy and their families “to the merciful love of Almighty God and invokes on all of them consolation and strength in the Lord,” it continues.

At least 41 people – including 15 children – died in the fire that ravaged this church in the working-class district of Imbaba. A short circuit is said to have triggered the fire, which spread rapidly while the faithful were attending the Divine Liturgy in large numbers.

This tragedy has highlighted the dilapidated state of some churches in Egypt and the sensitive issue of church construction in this country, which has about 10% of Copts.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry said the fire started in the second-floor air conditioning as a result of an electrical malfunction.

A view of the damage caused to the church building

Smoke inhalation was the main cause of death, according to the ministry. Witnesses said the fire blocked the church’s main entrance, leading to a stampede.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi tweeted his condolences for the victims.

“I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the innocent victims that have passed on to be with their Lord in one of his houses of worship,” he said. 

A funeral was held for the dead at a cemetery later on Sunday in Giza, which lies across the Nile River from Cairo and is Egypt’s second-largest city.