Pope Benedict XVI said today that he is praying that Egypt can find tranquility and peaceful co-existence, in his first comments since the massive anti-government protests broke out.

Pope Benedict said he is attentively following the "delicate situation in the dear Egyptian nation" as he addressed thousands of pilgrims gathered in St Peter's for his Angelus prayer.

Relations between Egypt and the Vatican were tense last month after a bomb attack killed 21 Christian worshippers at an Alexandria church on New Year's Eve.

The pope spoke out against the attack and asked that more be done to ensure Christians can practice their faith without discrimination or violence.

Egypt recalled its ambassador to the Vatican, saying the pontiff's remarks amounted to interfering in the country's internal affairs.

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