REPORT: Egypt’s new Coptic pope, Tawadros II, enthroned in Cairo ceremony

The new pope of Egypt’s Orthodox Coptic church has been enthroned.             

Pope Tawadros II, 60, was elected earlier this month, but the televised official enthronement ceremony was held Sunday at the Coptic cathedral in Cairo. He replaced Shenouda III, who died in March after leading the ancient church for 40 years.                   

The heated conversations around images of children wounded or killed in fighting between Israel and Gaza are a reminder of the mistrust and entrenched attitudes in the larger conflict.              

Egypt’s Christians make up about 10 percent of the nation’s estimated 83 million people, making them the largest single Christian community in the Middle East.            

Christians have long complained of discrimination, particularly in the last four decades as the country’s Muslim majority moved toward religious conservatism.

The rise to power of Islamists after the ouster nearly two years ago of authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak has deepened their concerns amid increasing attacks targeting their churches and businesses.


AP 


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