Bishop Bākhūm stated that President ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Sīsī’s participation in Christmas celebrations has confirmed that he is the president for all Egyptians from all sects and religions. He also confirmed that that the Catholic, Anglican, Syrian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox denominations celebrate Christmas according to the Western calendar, and Fr. Ibrāhīm Isḥaq, the Patriarch of the Catholic Copts of Egypt, will preside over the Christmas service at the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in Naṣr City on the evening of 24 December.