Pope Tawadros is back at the papal headquarters in St Mark’s Cathedral grounds in Abassiya, Cairo. His Cairo homecoming follows a four-week period of rest on doctors’ orders, which the Pope spent at Ikingi Maryut, some 34 km southwest Alexandria.
Pope Tawadros had felt unwell on Sunday 4 June, following Pentecost Mass which he celebrated at the papal quarters in Ikingi Maryut. Thorough medical examination revealed that he suffered a mild inflammation in the seventh cranial nerve. The doctors recommended rest, in addition to medication and physiotherapy.
On 15 June, the Pope issued a message to the congregation, titled “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1: 2), in which he explained that the month of May and early days in June had been crammed with various obligations, not least being his visit to Pope Francis in Rome on 10 – 13 May, that he consequently suffered great exhaustion. Coupled with the hot weather and cold air conditioning during meetings, it all led to the seventh cranial nerve inflammation he succumbed to on 4 June. Doctors said it was because of “stress and no rest”, thus prescribed rest, together with medication and physical therapy. “I have been resting since then, in a much-needed retreat of calm, tranquility, reflection, and contemplation of Church affairs inside and outside Egypt. I firmly believe that the prayers of the honourable clergy and congregation, even children, are seeing me through. I thank the Lord in whom and by whom we live for His boundless care and overwhelming love, and I thank all Egyptians who wished me well. We pray: ‘Heal the ills of our souls, and give health to our bodies’.”
Seventy-eight Coptic metropolitans and bishops had flocked to St Mark’s on 2July once word went out that the Pope would be arriving home that day. They warmly welcomed him, expressing heartfelt gratitude that the Lord had brought Pope Tawadros home safe and sound, fully recovered. They prayed that the Lord grants him health and strength, and support him in leading the Church.
Pope Tawadros told his well wishers that, all through the time he spent at Ikingi Maryut, he observed the treatment protocol he was administered, and that this contributed to his speedy recovery. He said it was important to fully balance one’s time and effort in pastoral work in order to avoid health problems, and to conduct regular medical checkups. “Health is a talent given to us by God,” he said, “and we should invest it in a good way.”
Watani International
3 July 2023