SHENOUDA III, Patriarch of the Coptic Church has died on Saturday at the age of 88. Shenouda III was battling liver and lung problems for many years. He was known as "Baba Shenouda" and led this Church for 40 years. He was born on August 3, 1923. Shenouda was born in Asyut, Egypt and replaced Patriarch Cyril in 1971. He established relations with the Vatican and met Pope John Paul II. The Coptic Church is the largest Christian Church in the Middle East and has followers world-wide. A new Pope will be chosen from the remaining 150 Bishops of the Council when they gather for voting. For now the most senior Bishop will be interim leader. He will be buried at Emba Bishoy monastery in Wadi Natroun. He tried to defend the Christians during the violence that occurred there between other religious groupings. There are approximately 80 million Copts in Egypt.
POPE BENEDICT XVI CONDOLENCES:
On learning of the sad departure to God, our common Father, of His Holiness
Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria on the See of Saint Mark the Evangelist, I
wish to express to the members of the Holy Synod, to the priests and all the
faithful of all the Patriarchate, my most sincere brotherly compassion. I recall
with gratitude his commitment to Christian Unity, his memorable visit to my
predecessor Pope Paul VI, and their signing of the Joint Declaration
of Faith in the Incarnation of the Son
of God together in Rome, on May 10, 1973, as well as his Cairo
meeting with Pope John Paul II during the Great Jubilee of the Incarnation, on
February24, 2000. I can say how the Catholic Church as a whole shares the grief
that afflicts the Orthodox Copts, and how she stands in fervent prayer asking
that He, who is who is the Resurrection and the Life, might welcome his faithful
servant. May the God of all mercy receive Pope Shenouda in His joy, His peace
and light.
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