His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (1923-2012), the 117th Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and the See of St Mark
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III (1923-2012), the 117th Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and the See of St Mark, passed away today 17 March 2012 (8 Baramhat 1728).
The papal secretary Anba Ermiah announced the news of the Pope’s death early in the evening, saying: “We mourn His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, and offer our condolences to the Church and to everyone who loved Him; we are sure He is now in the Heaven with the saints, interceding with the Lord on our behalf.”
“The Coptic Orthodox Church will announce forthcoming details following the convention of the Holy Synod,” Anba Ermia said.
It is customary that, following the death of a pope, the eldest archbishop member of the Holy Synod should be acting patriarch until a new patriarch is seated. If the eldest archbishop, Anba Mikhail of Assiut who was consecrated in 1946 declines to undertake that role, Archbishop of Beheira Anba Pachomeus, who was consecrated in 1971 and the second eldest member of the Holy Synod, will be acting patriarch for the upcoming two months, until a new pope is elected.
The Holy Synod will convene tomorrow.
There is talk that the funeral service will be held on Tuesday. Anba Moussa, bishop of Youth, said it was the Pope’s will to be buried at the desert monastery of Anba Bishoi in Wadi Natrun.
The body of the Pope is undergoing mummification in order to be seated on the throne of St Mark at dawn tomorrow and until the funeral service for the congregation to pay their last respects.
Some 500,000 have gathered in the grounds of St Mark’s Cathedral in Abassiya, Cairo, which is also the papal headquarters, mourning Pope Shenouda. They have been chanting “Irhamna, Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy”; “Don’t say the Pope has died, he is in Heaven”.
Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed forces has offered his condolences to the Church; as well as the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib and the Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa.
Watani International
17 March 2012