Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark Diocese on Saturday received a phone call from Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab on the crisis of a monastic assembly in Wadi El Rayan in Fayoum governorate.

The Orthodox Church said in a statement that the pope confirmed his position in support of the development projects that serve Egyptian citizens.

The monastery in Wadi El Rayan is not recognized, and the state has the right to take all measures to implement its plans for the development of the region, the statement added.