Following the attack in the northern city of Alexandria, which killed 21 people, Vatican official Lorenzo Leuzzi asked Italian lawmakers to participate in the Angelus to show support for religious freedom in the world.
"I salute the group of Italy's parliamentarians present here and I thank them for their commitment . . . in favour of religious freedom," Benedict told the lawmakers.
After the mass, about 1,000 Italian Copts rallied in Rome to voice support for religious freedom and to denounce terrorism.