(26 Nov 1971) 7147/A: EYGPT: NEW POPE FOR COPTIC CHURCH
In Cairo in November 1971, the Coptic Orthodox
Church of Egypt elected its 117th Pope and Patriarch
in line from St. Mark. He is Shenouda III and he now
assumes responsibility for four million Christians in
Egypt and about 15 million more in Ethiopia, Africa
and the rest of the Middle East. The Coptic Church is a
schismatic branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church (it
broke away in the fifth century), and claims to be the
oldest Christian denomination in the world. It traces
its history back to St.Mark the Evangelist, who is
believed to have founded the Church around 68 AD
(CE). In this report we highlight the colourful and
ancient ritual by which a new Pope is elected.
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