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Pope salutes Egypt's Copts 

Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday voiced solidarity with Egypt's Coptic Christians two days after they marked a sombre Christmas following a deadly New Year's Day church bombing.

"I salute the Coptic faithful present here to whom I renew my expression of closeness," he told thousands of people gathered on Saint Peter's Square during Sunday Mass.

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.