Madam Speaker, I met His Grace Bishop Boulos, the bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church and other community leaders. I am glad to hear that changes are happening in Egypt and that its president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has transformed the previously established state policies and positively altered the relationship between the state and the church.

I understand that he is the first president to physically visit the Coptic capital and has commissioned construction of the Cathedral of Nativity in Egypt's new administrative capital.

I am told that the bureaucratic challenges that limited the construction and renovation of Coptic churches have now been lifted. It is good to hear that the Copts are living through a period of peace, tranquility and equality under the current leadership in Egypt.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous 2023.