Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, continued building on the ties they have been working on for 10 years during a papal General Audience last week.

“It is with great joy that I welcomed today His Holiness Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, beloved brother and dear friend, with whom I celebrated the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Pope St. Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III,” the pope said in a post on Twitter after Wednesday’s meeting.

It was the first time in 10 years the two have been together at St. Peter's Square. When Tawadros was in St. Peter’s Square a decade ago, he proposed that May 10 should be designated as the "Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship.” Pope Francis took the suggestion to heart and the two have since connected via phone every year to further solidify the bond between their two Churches, Vatican News said.

It was the first time another pope had spoken during the General Audience, an event held to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Joint Christological Declaration signed by St. Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, according to Vatican News.

At that 1973 meeting between Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III, leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church at that time, the two religious leaders agreed to put an end to a long-standing Christological disagreement and forged an agreement between the Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches, the report said. It had been the first meeting between the two Church leaders in more than 1,000 years.

“Despite the differences in our roots and affiliations, we are united by the love of Christ who dwells within us, and the host of our Apostolic Fathers and saints which surrounds and guides us,” Pope Tawadros said during the ceremony, Vatican News said.

To that, Pope Francis replied: ”Dear friend and brother Tawadros, thank you for accepting my invitation on this dual anniversary, and I pray that the light of the Holy Spirit may illuminate your visit to Rome, the important meetings you will have here, and in particular our personal conversations. I thank you from my heart for your commitment to the growing friendship between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church."