CAIRO, Dec 12 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II said that the St. Peter Church bombing that killed 25 people and left tens injured hurt all Egyptians, after funeral prayers for the victims. 

Only families of victims, who received an official permit, were allowed entry to the funeral mass that was held at the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasios Church in Nasr City.

"It pains us very much that our loved ones have left us because of this incident," Pope Tawadros II said after the funeral service.

Pope Tawadros II had cut short a visit to Greece to return to Egypt following the explosion, which hit a church attached to the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Abbasiya.

"It also pains us to witness such evil, an evil that is void of humanity, and the emotions given to humans by God.

"This evil has become a tool in the hands of villains who have hurt the people and the country. This calamity is not against the church but against the homeland...against all of Egypt," he added.

Following the explosion, Egypt's Orthodox church stressed on the importance of preserving national unity, while President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-day mourning starting Sunday.

Sisi is scheduled to head a state funeral for the victims at the Unknown Soldier Memorial in Nasr City later on Monday.