The Coptic Orthodox Church has issued a statement on the evening of 7 January to reassure the Coptic congregation that Pope Tawadros is in good health.
The statement read:
“In the aftermath of the visibly extreme exhaustion displayed by Pope Tawadros II during Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Nativity [Copts celebrate Christmas on 6 January] and the consequent concern felt by Copts about his health, the Pope checked into hospital on 7 January for medical tests.
“Results of the tests confirmed that the Pope was in very good health; his exhaustion on Christmas Eve owed to tiredness following a charged workload before Christmas. During that period, the Pope was busy with pastoral care in addition to receiving numerous officials who expressed their good wishes for Christmas.
“We reassure all Copts that His Holiness is fine and will resume his normal pastoral activities within a few days by God’s will.”
