Papal candidates for The Coptic Orthodox Church

 

The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK

Media and Public Relations Office

The preliminary list of names presented to the Nominations Committee of those put forward as Papal candidates was announced and published on Wednesday 30th May 2012, in Cairo as part of the Papal Selection Process for the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church has announced the preliminary list of names presented to the Nominations Committee of those put forward as Papal candidates as part of the process of selecting a new pope to succeed His Holiness the late Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark. H.H. Pope Shenouda III departed on 17th March 2012 after forty-one years of papacy.

A final list of eligible voters is yet to be announced, and the period for challenges to be presented to the Nominations Challenges Committee with regards to Papal candidates will only commence once this is done.

The preliminary Papal candidate list is as follows:

Metropolitan Bishoy of Damiette

Bishop Youannes

Bishop Roufail

Bishop Pavnotious of Samalout

Bishop Boutros

Bishop Tawadros

Bishop Kirollos of Milan

Father Rafael Avva-Mina

Father Maximos El-Antony

Father Shenouda Anba-Bishoy

Father Pakhomous El-Souriani

Father Daniel El-Souriani

Father Anastasi El-Samuely

Father Bishoy Anba-Paula

Father Sawaries Anba-Paula

Father Seraphim El-Souriani

Father Pigol Anba-Paula

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom has issued a detailed explanation of the papal selection process, along with a timeline which identifies key stages of the process, saying the following:

“This is an experience with which many will not have been involved in their lifetime, so it was important to provide a simplified explanation, allowing engagement at every level. Within these steps we find a robust process that includes: nominations from peers within the Holy Synod, nominations from laity through the General Lay Council, systematic scrutiny with a process of challenges and appeals, representative democratic election, and above all, the Altar Ballot that encompasses this whole process with a spirit of prayer and trustful submission to the will of God.”

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