Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians

Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic

His name was selected from a glass bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral. Three candidates had been shortlisted.

 The 60-year-old succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who died in March aged 88.

The other two candidates were Bishop Raphael and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October.

 Their names were written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the church altar.

 A blindfolded boy – one of 12 shortlisted children – then drew out the name of Bishop Tawadros, who until now was an aide to the acting leader, Bishop Pachomius.

Bishop Pachomius then took the ballot from the boy’s hand and showed it to all those gathered in the cathedral.

 Many leading Copts believe the new pope should play a less overtly political role. Activists hope that ordinary Copts can make their voices heard by winning more seats in the now democratically elected parliament.

 Strict measures were in place to make sure there was no foul play during the televised ceremony: the three pieces of paper with candidates’ names were all the same size and tied the same way.

 Bishop Tawadros will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November.

 The new pope has studied in Britain, and has also run a medicine factory, according to BBC.