The following message left by His Holiness for the Coptic people after the Pope’s departure was read during the funeral service by Anba Pavnotius, Bishop of Samalout.
The following message left by His Holiness for the Coptic people after the Pope’s departure was read during the funeral service by Anba Pavnotius, Bishop of Samalout.
“To all my sons and daughters; I am your father and teacher; listen to my words, my beloved children;
Preserve the truthfulness of the Holy Trinity,
Be devoted to each other with true love,
Be kind-hearted to all humanity,
And do not let the world deceive you…
I am asking you, my beloved children…
Do not delay to fulfil God’s service,
Pray fervently,
Keep your tongues from slander (or divisive language),
Preserve the Holy Baptism that was granted to you,
Keep your bodies pure for God,
Do not ever let your lamps burn out,
Keep in heart the commandments that God gave you,
Let the fear of God prevail in your hearts…
God is my witness, my beloved children, that I never hid any of God’s words from you.
And I never ever rested while my conscience held blame by any of you.
If you keep my words in your heart,
You will eat from the goodness of the earth,
And the shining Cherubim will guard you,
And you will lack nothing of Heavenly gifts…
I am asking you, my beloved children…
To ask God for me; ask Him to rest my soul that it may have comfort before Him,
And forgive me for any weakness I committed unknowingly or unwillingly.
To the clergy; bishops and priests:
I ask for your love and I plead to your reverence to absolve me, each and every one of you.
Now, I am far from you and have left you, and I cannot see your faces.
I ask you all to exhaust yourselves in prayers for me;
To remember me in the Holy Liturgies, that my Lord may accept me to Him and may forgive me.
And I ask Christ, the Great Shepherd of Shepherds, that He may choose for you a righteous shepherd according to His Will and Heart;
To care for you and your matters, and watch over the salvation of your souls.
WATANI International
22 April 2012