The Most Revd Justin Welby, 105th Archbishop of Canterbury visited His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the Papal Residence in Cairo on 24 June 2013

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate use

24 June 2013

Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark, receives the Most Revd Justin Welby, 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury, at the Papal Residence in Cairo on 24 June 2013.

The Most Revd Justin Welby visited His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the Papal Residence in Cairo. His Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy, Co-Chair of the Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission, His Grace Bishop Thomas of Quosia, His Grace Bishop Youannes and His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, who is a member of the International Commission and Co-Chair of the Regional Forum in the United Kingdom. Archbishop Justin was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Mounir Hanna, Primate of the Episcopal Church in Egypt and the Horn of Africa, Bishop Michael Lewis, Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, Bishop Grant LeMarquand, Area Bishop for the Horn of Africa, and members of the Lambeth Palace ecumenical and inter-religious offices.

The meeting was cordial and addressed the re-initiation of the International Commission later this year in England, and the nature of ongoing relations between the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the wider Oriental Orthodox family, and the Church of England and the Anglican Communion worldwide.

In welcoming the Archbishop, Pope Tawadros said:

‘We must build our dialogue and studies on love and crown them with prayers; we must also prepare our people to love, accept and work with each other in the spirit of unity found in John 17.’

Commenting on the meeting, Archbishop Justin said:

‘We had a very wide-ranging discussion, coming back several times to the question of how the Church can flourish and grow in prayer, in love for one another and in teaching of the scriptures to our contemporaries. It’s important that we find a way of enabling our affection for one another to be transformed into effective shared witness. I also had the opportunity to express the prayer and solidarity of the Anglican Communion with all the Christians of the Middle East as they seek the common good of their various nations.’

Speaking from Cairo, Bishop Angaelos said:

‘In what is proving to be a historic year for meetings between new heads of Churches across the world, this most recent visit of His Grace Archbishop Justin to His Holiness Pope Tawadros has highlighted the continued efforts towards continued good relations and greater unity between our Churches. Having commenced their ministries in leading their respective Churches only months apart, I am sure that this will be an opportunity for Pope Tawadros and Archbishop Justin to develop these existing relationships.  It is very significant that our International Commission is recommencing this year after ten years, and I am sure that it will recreate a valuable platform for common understanding, leading to a greater witness of solidarity, not only for members of our own Churches but for the wider Christian Church and the whole world.’

*Ends*

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Angela Mikhail

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The Coptic Orthodox Church UK
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Press Release: The Coptic Orthodox Church announces Papal Selection dates

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate use
Date: 13 Sep 2012

The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK

Media and Public Relations Office

The new pope of The Coptic Orthodox Church will be chosen on 2 December 2012 as announced by the Holy Synod and Nominations Committee on Wednesday 12 September 2012. The official list of Papal nominees and final dates that will bring the Papal selection process to a close was also announced.

The Holy Synod and Nominations Committee of the Coptic Orthodox Church have announced that the 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, will be chosen on 2 December 2012. Pope Shenouda III departed on 17th March 2012 after forty-one years of papacy.

The Papal Selection Timeline as announced on Wednesday 12 September 2012 is as follows:

• 14 September- Final papal nominations announced by nominations committee
• 15-30 September - Period for challenges to nominations by voters
• 1-3 October - Church-wide fast for the coming stage of the process
• 3 October - Nominations committee commences deliberations and creates a shortlist of 5-7 candidates for papal election
• 19-21 November - Church-wide fast before Papal election
• 24 November - Papal election
• 26-29 November - Church-wide fast preceding Altar Ballot
• 2 December - Liturgical service at the Grand Cathedral of St Mark in which the Altar Ballot will take place and the new pope will be chosen.

The Nominations Committee will formally issue the final list of Papal Candidates on Friday 14 September, and they are:

• Metropolitan Bishoy of Damietta
• Bishop Youannes
• Bishop Rafael
• Bishop Pafnotious of Samalout
• Bishop Boutros
• Bishop Tawadros
• Bishop Kyrollos of Milan
• Father Rafael Ava-Mina
• Father Maximos El-Antony
• Father Shenouda Anba-Bishoy
• Father Pakhomious El-Souriany
• Father Daniel El-Souriani
• Father Anastasi El-Samuel
• Father Bishoy Anba-Paula
• Father Saweris Anba-Paula
• Father Seraphim El-Souriany
• Father Pigol Anba-Bishoy

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom who has issued a detailed explanation of the papal selection process said:

“The papal selection process, albeit lengthy, has been carried out thus far with integrity, transparency and inclusion of the broad spectrum of the Coptic Orthodox Church both inside and outside Egypt. As we approach the selection of the new pope, we are confident that this process has been carried out for centuries, and is not merely based on democratic election, but primarily on a collective prayerfulness and faith in God’s choice.”

***ENDS***

For more information please contact:

Media and Public Relations Officer

The Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Tel: +44 (0)207 1937076

 

Media and Public Relations Office

The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre

Shephalbury Manor

Broadhall Way, Stevenage

Hertfordshire SG2 8NP

England, United Kingdom

 

Tel.: +44 (0)207 1937076

Fax: +44 (0)1438 313879

Office Email: Media@CopticCentre.com

Website: www.CopticCentre.com

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