In an exclusive interview with in Amman, Jordan, Bishop Krikor Augustin Coussa, Bishop of Alexandria of the Armenian Catholics (Egypt, Sudan, and the African countries), was appointed Bishop of Alexandria on Sept. 9, 2003 and ordained on May 9, 2004.

The international conference “Media and their role in defending the truth,” reflecting on dialogue between religions and people in the Middle East, is taking place in the Jordanian capital, on June 18-20, 2019. The meeting is promoted by the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the East, the Catholic Centre for Studies and Media in Jordan, with the collaboration of the Platform for Dialogue and Cooperation between Religious Leaders and Institutions of the Arab World” and the Jordanian Office of Tourism.

Pope Francis visited Jordan, home to the Baptism site of Jesus, in 2014, during the journey to the Holy Land. Jordan, with a large Islamic majority, where Catholics are less than 1% of the population, has a reputation as a peaceful and tolerant country in the Middle East.

Tell a bit, Your Excellency, about the situation in your country of Egypt?
Bishop Krikor Augustin Coussa: The situation in Egypt now is interesting, because there is war in the Middle East and all talk about the war. However, they don’t tell the truth and, in this conference, we want to tell the truth and, above all, we want to tell how Christians live in the Middle East. We work together for the truth and the life of Christians and for coexistence with Muslims — a coexistence of love and fraternity.

How do Christians live in the Middle East?
Before Christians lived well in Arab countries, but now, because of the war, all are afraid. Christians want to leave. For example, they want to go from Egypt to Australia, the United States and Canada. However, we, bishops and priests, don’t want our faithful to leave their homelands, but feeling compelled.

They are still living under fear of attacks or terrorism…
There have been many attacks on churches and Christian places or symbols in Egypt …When one witnesses attacks on churches, convents, priests, and so on, it is often something rather difficult for many to wrap their minds around and come to grips with. This is our reality.

Are your faithful fearful to go to church?
Not only Catholics, also Orthodox, Protestants, all, even Muslims. Fear is there. Ultimately though, all of us, whatever our religion may be, want peace and to live together.

In this conference, the underlying theme is truth in communication. When it comes to engaging in dialogue with Islam, is it always appropriate to tell the whole truth or is it appropriate to be more diplomatic?
For me, in my reality, my relationships with Muslims are very positive. I am grateful for this. In fact, some could be surprised to hear, but there are representatives of the Islamic community who travel to me for Christmas and Easter to attend Mass. However, it also goes without saying that certainly there are others that don’t maintain relationships with Muslims.

Establishing a media observatory designed to refute misleading and false ideas, and to spread the spirit of dialogue.

I want to take with me the works of this Conference for peace, for telling the truth without fear, and to have all live again in peace. Jesus said, tell the truth and don’t be afraid.

What do you think of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed in Abu Dhabi, on Feb. 4, 2019, between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Alzhar Al Tayyeb, in which there is also strong language condemning religious extremism?
It’s very beautiful. I spoke with journalists in Egypt, to publish it and make known what the Head of the Catholic Church says to all Christians; how it necessary it is to live together.

Beyond your call to spread this message, would you say the document has circulated through your country? Not only among the Catholics or Christians, but among the Muslims?
Yes. Certainly. It has also circulated in the secular publications, even the primary Egyptian newspaper. This is a good sign that little by little this document is becoming more and more known, and has received this positive welcome.