Pope Francis sent a message to his Coptic counterpart Pope Tawadros II on Wednesday, saying their churches had "bonds of fraternity" and should strive for "unity in diversity."
"Our bonds of fraternity challenge us to intensify our common efforts to persevere in the search for visible unity in diversity, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit," read the letter.
It thanked Tawadros for his hospitality during Francis' trip to Cairo in late April and for their "moving meeting and common prayer as brothers in Christ".
"I assure Your Holiness of my continued prayers for you, and for peace in Egypt and the Middle East," the letter went on.
In a joint statement made public after the meeting between Francis and Tawadros in Cairo on 28 April, the Catholic and Coptic Churches said they would recognise each other’s baptisms.
During their meeting at Cairo's Saint Mark's Cathedral, Tawadros called Francis "a symbol of peace in world wracked by conflicts and wars."
"Your visit is a further step forward on the road towards love and fraternity between peoples," Tawadros said.
Francis' landmark visit to Cairo followed two deadly bombings of Egyptian churches that killed dozens of minority Copts on 9 April, attacks which were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.
