Coptic Orthodox Church set to elect new head

(Vatican Radio) On Sunday the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria will choose a new Bishop of Alexandria – who holds the title of ‘Pope’ – to succeed Shenouda III, who died in March of this year.

During Sunday’s liturgy, a blindfolded altar boy will choose the name of one of three candidates who were chosen earlier this week. The three finalists were chosen in a lengthy process that involved input from bishops, priests and laity from around the world.

The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the largest Christian Church in the Middle East, counting tens of millions of adherents in Egypt and around the world.

“Christians are probably looking forward to the new pope to provide some safety, some comfort, some relief that there is a leader they can turn to in their own difficult times,” says Michael Meunier, the head of the US Copts Association. He spoke with Vatican Radio’s Christopher Wells about the importance of the election of a new Pope, and about the situation of Christians in Egypt today.

“This is a very sensitive time for Christians in Egypt,” he says, “having gone through a revolution that we initially thought was bringing democracy and religious freedom to Egypt, and ended up bringing Islamism and anti-Chritianism into the public domain.”

Mr Meunier says, “Egypt is being Islamised. Egypt has about 18 million Christians. . . and those 18 millions are finding themselves persecuted day in and day out, and things are getting tougher by the day.”

He spoke about his hopes for the new pope: “I believe a new pope might provide people with some security this day, and try to be calm and maybe provide comfort and hope for the future.”

Listen to the complete interview of US Copt Association’s Michael Meunier with Christopher Wells: