He was the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He had recently been the focus of a great deal of international attention as Christians in Egypt were the focus of persecution during the events leading up to the Arab Spring uprising last year. Christians have realistic fears concerning the new constitution of Egypt which is being drafted by Islamists.
Shenouda’s death on Saturday at age 88 comes at a time when those worries are higher than ever among Egypt’s estimated 10 million Coptic Christians, the main Christian community in the Muslim majority nation of 80 million. The fall a year ago of President Hosni Mubarak has brought increasing power to Islamic movements, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood and the more radical Salafis, who together won more than 70 percent of parliament’s seats in elections.
Christian fears have been stoked by a series of recent attacks, starting with the suicide bombing of an Alexandria church during New Year’s Mass in 2011 that killed 21 people.
Since Mubarak’s fall, several churches have been attacked by mobs, stoked in part by hard-line Islamic clerics warning that Christians were trying to convert Muslim women or trying to take over the country.
Christians accused security forces of doing little to find or punish those behind the attacks.
There was a further uproar in the community when troops harshly put down a Christian protest in Cairo in October, killing 27 people.
The patriarch, known in Arabic as “Baba Shenouda,” was viewed by many Copts as their guardian, a charismatic leader known for his sense of humor. His smiling portrait was hung in many Coptic homes and shops. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest in the work, tracing its founding to St. Mark, who is said to have brought Christianity to Egypt in the 1st Century during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.
“Egypt Coptic Christian Pope dies
The head of Egypt’s Coptic Christian Church, Pope Shenouda III, has died at the age of 88, Egyptian state TV announces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Shenouda_III_of_Alexandria
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17416429
Christians gather to bid farewell to Egypt’s Pope
Reuters – Christians paid final respects on Sunday to Pope Shenouda III, who spent the last months of his four decades at the head of Egypt’s Orthodox Church trying to soothe sectarian tensions that have escalated since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Ten of thousands queued at the cathedral where Shenouda’s body was initially laid in a coffin and later seated on a ceremonial throne wearing gold and red embroidered religious vestments, a golden mitre on his head and holding a gold-topped staff.
The lines blocked traffic in central Cairo and some women and elderly fainted in the heat.The cathedral opened and closed its doors several times in an attempt to contain the crowds.
Mubarak, who suppressed Islamists, was ousted last year. Since then Shenouda, who died on Saturday aged 88, often called for harmony and regularly met Muslim and other leaders.
Christians, who comprise about a tenth of Egypt’s 80 million people, have long complained of discrimination and in the past year stepped up protests, which included calls for new rules that would make it as easy to build a church as a mosque.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/18/uk-egypt-christians-shenouda-idUKBRE82H06K20120318
Second vigil held for Coptic pope
BBC – Crowds of Egyptian Coptic Christians are holding a second all-night vigil to mourn the death of their spiritual leader Pope Shenouda III.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17425070
Anglican Communion Secretary General’s statement on the death of Pope Shenouda III
Anglicans around the world were saddened to hear of the death of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Pope Shenouda was a man of great holiness whose life was spent in the service of his people, even to the point of house arrest. While giving personal attention to all of the congregations of his church throughout the world, he also made time for weekly teaching from the Bible for the faithful in Cairo.
He was deeply committed to ecumenical movement and worked for the reconciliation of long-standing theological divisions. The Anglican Communion sends condolences to Copts everywhere, and we hold the people of Egypt in our prayers at this time.
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/3/18/ACNS5074
Statement from the Diocese of Egypt on the death of Pope Shenouda III
Together with all Egyptians, the Episcopal / Anglican Church of Egypt mourns the loss of Pope Shenouda III, the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Pope Shenouda passed away yesterday (Saturday 17 March) at the age of 89 and 41 years after his enthronement as the 117th Patriarch of Alexandria. Pope Shenouda was a great example of a Bishop who is committed to teaching his people regularly. Every Wednesday for the last 41 years, he met with his people (between 5000 and 6000 each week) to answer their questions and teach from the Bible. He wrote many books, which were translated into several languages.
Pope Shenouda had a great missionary vision. He consecrated two missionary bishops in Africa, and he planted churches and monasteries in all of the continents of the world. He gave special care to all of the Copts in the diaspora. Pope Shenouda had a warm heart for ministry to the poor. He had a special meeting with them every Thursday, where he supported them through funds, counselling and prayer. More at :
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/3/18/ACNS5073
Egypt’s grief-stricken Christians fear a new wave of persecution
Independent – Death of Coptic Pope Shenouda III leaves millions of worshippers around the country without a spiritual leader
The death of Pope Shenouda III, who led Egypt’s Coptic Christian Church for 40 years, has increased fears among Copts that they will face persecution and discrimination as Islamic parties become more powerful.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners, many crying, packed the streets around St Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo yesterday as they waited to file past the body of Pope Shenouda, dressed in ceremonial robes and sitting in the papal chair. Ashraf, 26, a blacksmith, said as he stood beside the outer wall of the cathedral that “the very existence of Shenouda made us feel protected”.
A tired-looking woman, who would not give her name, was sitting on the pavement holding a child. She said: “I wish I could get in to see the body. I feel worse that our protector has gone. God knows what is going to happen.”
Egypt’s Copts, estimated to number 10 to 12 million, complain that they are treated as second-class citizens and denied top jobs. They had hoped that the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak last year would reduce discrimination, but now fear their condition may worsen as the Muslim Brotherhood and the fundamentalist Salafi movement, which together have 70 per cent of the seats in the newly elected parliament, gain greater influence.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/egypts-griefstricken-christians-fear-a-new-wave-of-persecution-7576829.html
Why Pope Shenouda’s Death Matters to Egyptian Protestants
Christianity Today – Pope Shenouda, the controversial yet beloved head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt, died Saturday after 40 years of leading and reforming the ancient Christian sect. His death complicates the uncertain position of Orthodox believers—who represent 90 percent of Egyptian Christians—now that Islamists have surged to leadership following Egypt’s revolution last January.
Coptic Protestants respected and appreciated the pope.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/marchweb-only/shenouda-protestants.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+christianitytoday%2Fctmag+%28Christianity+Today+Magazine%29
Panel to write new constitution for Egypt will be dominated by Islamists
Examiner – Egypt’s Islamist-dominated parliament has voted in favour of ensuring that its own lawmakers will comprise the bulk of a panel that will write the state’s constitution.
Yesterday, lawmakers voted on the criteria for the makeup of a 100-member panel drafting the document. The Islamists, who dominate the parliament, want a formidable presence on the panel to ensure a strong voice in the process.
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/panel-to-write-new-constitution-for-egypt-will-be-dominated-by-islamists-3053942.html