Intervention of Mons. Antonios Aziz MINA, Bishop of Guizeh of the Copts (EGYPT)

Episcopal elections
This intervention of mine is not aimed at asking for a change in the current norms, but rather that of finding a way that might simplify the procedures in making nominations, maintaining the current norms and safeguarding at the same time Eastern tradition.
I suggest two alternatives, in order of preference:
- To consider the Roman Pontiff potentially present in all the meetings of the Synod, and implicitly assenting at every election that has taken place. Thus the Patriarch will have to ask the Holy Father to give his blessing at the end of the election but still before the publication of the nomination.
- The Patriarch should communicate the election result directly to the Holy Father in a special audience or by means of the Pontifical Representative, asking for his assent.
The jurisdiction of the patriarch over the faithful of the same rite outside of the patriarchal territories:
The principle of territoriality has been staunchly maintained by all the ecumenical councils.
On the other hand, the last 60/70 years have marked human history at a frenetic rate.
Mass immigration of entire families from one side of the world to another has led to many Eastern people leaving their territory to establish their home elsewhere. The extreme example of this is when the faithful belonging to a Church “sui iuris” are more numerous outside of the territory than within it.
It is not entirely logical that some faithful who belong to a Church “sui iuris” have no relationship with the Church they belong to other than liturgically.
My request is that the Patriarch be granted personal jurisdiction over the faithful of his Church wherever they might be.
Bishoprics for the Eastern faithful deprived of a hierarch:
This pre-Council juridical structure, that arose for the pastoral care of the Eastern faithful living outside their territories of origin, appears to be entirely outdated, in fact I would even go so far as to say it is contrary to the dispositions of present law.
I propose instead to look again at the juridical position of the existing bishoprics for the Eastern faithful deprived of a hierarch, with a view to their abolition.
The mission of married priests outside the patriarchal territories
Since the 1930s there has been a ban on the ordination of and the practice of the ministry by married priests outside the territories of the Patriarchy and the “Historically Eastern regions”.
I think, in line with whatever the Holy Father decides, that the time has come to take this step in favor of the pastoral care of the Eastern faithful throughout the Diaspora.

[00035-02.02] [INO13] [Original text: Italian]