Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria: Difference between revisions
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==Bishop== |
==Bishop== |
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On 15 June 1997 he was consecrated as a general bishop by his predecessor as Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Shenouda III]], in the name Tawadros (Theodoros). He was assigned to serve in the Eparchy of [[Beheira Governorate|Behira]] in the northwestern [[Nile Delta|Delta]]. |
On 15 June 1997, he was consecrated as a general bishop by his predecessor as Pope, [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Shenouda III]], in the name Tawadros (Theodoros). He was assigned to serve in the Eparchy of [[Beheira Governorate|Behira]] in the northwestern [[Nile Delta|Delta]]. |
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==Views and issues== |
==Views and issues== |
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Revision as of 18:06, 11 May 2013
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II | |
|---|---|
| Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria | |
| File:Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria.jpg Pope Tawadros II | |
| Native name | Tawadros II Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ البابا تواضروس التانى |
| Church | Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria |
| See | See of St. Mark |
| Papacy began | 18 November 2012[1] |
| Predecessor | Pope Shenouda III |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1989[1] |
| Consecration | 15 June 1997[original research?] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wagih Subhi Baqi Sulayman وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان 4 November 1952[2] |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Denomination | Coptic Orthodox |
| Residence | Coptic Orthodox Patriarchal Residence[3] |
| Alma mater | University of Alexandria |
Pope Tawadros II (Coptic: Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲑⲉόⲇⲱⲣⲟⲥ Template:Lang-ar) is the 118th Coptic Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark since he took office on 18 November 2012, a fortnight after being selected.[4]
Early life
![[icon]](/enwiki/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion with: more details. You can help by adding to it. (November 2012) |
Pope Tawadros II was born Waǧīh Ṣubḥī Bāqī Sulaymān (وجيه صبحى باقى سليمان) on 4 November 1952 in the city of Mansoura in Egypt.[2] He studied at the University of Alexandria, where he received a degree in pharmacy in 1975.[5] After a few years of managing a state-owned pharmaceutical factory, he joined the Monastery of Saint Pishoy in Wadi Natrun to study theology for two years. He was ordained priest in 1989.[1]
Bishop
On 15 June 1997, he was consecrated as a general bishop by his predecessor as Pope, Shenouda III, in the name Tawadros (Theodoros). He was assigned to serve in the Eparchy of Behira in the northwestern Delta.
Views and issues
Tawadros has stated that the 2011 Egyptian revolution was a turning point in the Coptic Church's relations with its youth. Amongst his first tasks is the issue of Egypt's changing political landscape, given the new constitution and more independent-minded congregants who seek their demands outside the church in dealing with the state.[1]
Papal selection
The papal selection process began several weeks before the 4 November selection. About 2,400 clergymen and others shortlisted three candidates: Bishop Tawadros, former aide to Metropolitan Pachomios; Bishop Raphael; and Father Raphael Ava Mina, a monk in a monastery near Alexandria and disciple of 116th Pope Cyril VI.[6]
The ceremony to choose the pope from the three consensus candidates was held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral at about noon and featured a marked police presence. Prior to the selection, Metropolitan Pachomios, locum tenens of the Church, sealed the chalice with the names with red wax and put it upon the altar as he led the Divine Liturgy. He then told the congregation: "We will pray that God will choose the good shepherd." Following a moment of silence, a blindfolded boy then picked Tawadros's name from the chalice.[7] The thousands of congregants in attendance then erupted in ovation, tears or prayer. In reaction Tawadros II said, from the monastery at Wadi Natrun: "[We] will start by organising the house from within. It is a responsibility. Most important is...that the church, as an institution, serves the community." Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi congratulated Tawadros and called for Egyptian "unity" and "brotherly love" between Copts and Muslims.[1]
Papacy
Pope Tawadros II started his papacy amid multiple changes in Egypt. He said that the Orthodox Church is committed to keeping Article 2 of Egypt’s draft constitution intact, as it was in the old constitution [8] and ended supporting the withdrawal of the Egyptian churches from Egypt’s Constituent Assembly despite efforts by the presidency to convince them to return.[9] Bishop Raphael, who came first in the election stage of papal selection, was appointed general secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Visit to Vatican
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark and leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, has met with His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, May 8, 2013 in Vatican City. This was the first meeting of the two recently elected Church leaders and only the second Papal gathering in Rome in 1500 years. The last visit of a Coptic Pope to the Vatican occurred on May 10, 1973 when His Holiness Pope Shenouda III met with His Holiness Pope Paul VI (both departed) and signed an important Christological Declaration with the ambition to initiate ecumenical dialogue between the two Churches.
Pope Tawadros II and Pope Francis are scheduled to hold a shared prayer on Friday, May 10, 2013 followed by a reception with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and other dicasteries of the Roman Curia. His Holiness Pope Tawadros II will also visit the tombs of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul; and will devote the remainder of his visit to shepherd the Coptic Community in Rome.
This historical meeting brings with it the hope to strengthen ecumenical dialogue and the promotion of unity amongst Christians not only in Rome and Cairo, but worldwide. We pray for peace for our holy, universal and Apostolic Churches, for the world, and for grace, health, wisdom and security for His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and His Holiness Pope Francis.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Egypt's Copts choose new pope for uncertain times". The Associated Press. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
- ^ a b c "L'évêque Tawadros, nouveau patriarche copte d'Egypte" (in French). Le Parisien. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ Link: http://www.copticpope.org. Although the site is mostly in Arabic, the Papal Residence is briefly mentioned in English at the bottom of the Home Page.
- ^ "Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians". BBC News. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
- ^ "Tawadros II: The 118th pope of the Coptic Church". Egypt Independent. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The New Pope Will Be from These 3 Men". Egyptian Chronicles. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ "Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians". Egyptian Chronicles. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ Al-monitor Coptic Pope Warns of Extremism In Egypt's Constituent Assembly
- ^ All Africa Egypt: Pope Tawadros Receives Presidential Staff Head