This visit is considered an answer to the generous invitation that President Mubarak gave to Pope John Paul II. Father Rafiq Graish, pastor of Saint Kyrollos Church for the Roman Catholics and the responsible of the media center that is assigned to supervise the preparations of the visit said: "The former Popes of Rome did not go out of it, that was a traditional protocol. However, Pope Paul II who preceded Pope John Paul II made several visits to several countries."