Ottawa, November 5, 2012 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement congratulating the new Coptic Pope:
“I wish to congratulate Bishop Tawadros on being chosen as the new leader of Egypt’s ancient Coptic Orthodox church, becoming the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa in the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle.
“In a traditional ceremony at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo yesterday, Bishop Tawadros’s name was selected from a crystal chalice containing the names of three short-listed candidates. He succeeds Pope Shenouda III, whom I had the great honour to meet in person, as the spiritual leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East, at a challenging and uncertain time for Coptic Christians in Egypt.
“As patriarch, the Pope will provide leadership for the global Coptic Church, will be responsible for protecting the ancient Coptic religious, ritual and cultural patrimony, and will be able to deepen and strengthen ecumenical relations with sister churches throughout the Catholic and Orthodox world. He will also bear the great responsibility of encouraging and protecting the Coptic minority in Egypt as they face ever-increasing threats and persecution.
“As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and on behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my best wishes to Bishop Tawadros as he prepares to assume these heavy responsibilities at his enthronement on November 18 and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Coptic community in Canada.”
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
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Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East.
His name was selected from a glass bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral. Three candidates had been shortlisted.
The 60-year-old succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who died in March aged 88.
He succeeds as attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many say they fear the country’s new Islamist leaders.
Bishop Tawadros has studied in Britain
The other two candidates were Bishop Raphael and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October.
