The Patriarchal Archbishop of Africa, Metropolitan Klinsky Leonid (Gorbachev), said that the Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the African continent requested the help of Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, in registering land in Egypt to build a spiritual center for the Russian Orthodox Church in the new capital of the country.
During his meeting with Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, the Patriarch of Africa said: “If your honor permits, we would respectfully request your assistance in solving the tasks facing the Exarchate (the Russian Orthodox Church). First of all, this is related to the official registration of the Exarchate in Egypt and the acquisition of a plot of land in the New Administrative Capital. In order to build the spiritual center of the Russian
Archbishop Leonid added that official requests regarding this will be sent to the Egyptian authorities in the near future, noting that the Egyptian government values the Coptic Church in Egypt and abroad.
an appeal addressed to the President of Egypt with a request to allocate a site in New Cairo, the new capital for our administrative and spiritual center, and this is very important for us.”
In turn, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, welcomed the establishment of a Russian Orthodox patriarchal exarchate on African lands.
Pope Tawadros II said: "We wish success for the mission you will carry out in Egypt and other African countries."
During the meeting, Archbishop Leonid pointed out that the Russian and Coptic churches have long-term relations and are characterized by the warmest relations, adding: “I solemnly announce that the entry of the Russian Orthodox Church into Africa takes place here in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in full cooperation and brotherhood with the Coptic Church. The Coptic Church is today a major partner of the Russian Orthodox Church not only in Egypt, but also in other countries of the African continent.”
Egypt's new administrative capital is located east of Cairo, halfway to the Suez seaport, and the project was announced by Egyptian Minister of Construction Mostafa Madbouly at a conference on the country's economic development in March 2015.
It is reported that on the 24th of June, Archbishop Klinsky Leonid began his visit to Egypt and Cairo
and during the visit high-level talks were held with the Head of the Central Department of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Deputy Egyptian Minister of Endowments Sheikh Noureddin Kanui. The Russian Orthodox Church will appeal to the President of Egypt to allocate land for the construction of an administrative and spiritual center in the country's new capital.
On December 29, 2021, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided to establish a Patriarchal Exarchate for Africa with two dioceses in its composition: North Africa, with its center in Cairo and South Africa, and its center in Johannesburg (South Africa). Archbishop Leonid was appointed Patriarchal Head of Africa.