Pope Francis has told the Egyptian people he is coming to Cairo this week as a friend and a "messenger of peace."
In a videotaped message in Italian released by the Vatican on Tuesday, Francis says he hopes the pilgrimage will be "an embrace of consolation and of encouragement to all Christians in the Middle East."
Twin bombings of Coptic Christian churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday killed 44 people. Francis departs for Cairo on Friday and returns on Saturday.
He wished the "dear people of Egypt" peace and said he was coming "with a joyful and grateful heart."
