Prime Minister Hisham Kandil sent a telegram on Sunday to Pope Tawadros II greeting him for Christmas.
"I am pleased to send the sincerest greetings and best wishes to you and to our Coptic brothers on the occasion of Christmas," Kandil said in his telegram as reported by the Middle East News Agency.
He added, "I take this occasion to pray to God Almighty for happy returns to you and to our beloved nation, Happy New Year."