Pope refuses armoured car in Egypt despite risk

Pope Francis in Rome at the weekend. Photo: Reuters

Nick Squires in Rome

Pope Francis has chosen not to travel in a bullet-proof vehicle for his first trip to Egypt this week, despite a recent spate of terrorist attacks targeting the country's Christians.

The Pope will fly from Rome to Cairo on Friday for a two-day visit intended to build on inter-faith dialogue with Muslim leaders and to show solidarity with beleaguered Christian communities in the Middle East.