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| Egyptian Copts await new pope to succeed Shenouda III | Egyptian Copts await new pope to succeed Shenouda III |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Egypt's Coptic Christians will learn who is their new pope on Sunday, when a blindfolded child selects the name of one of three candidates. | |
| Two bishops and a monk are on the shortlist to become the 118th leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East - up to 11 million strong. | Two bishops and a monk are on the shortlist to become the 118th leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East - up to 11 million strong. |
| The individual chosen will succeed Pope Shenouda III, who died in March. | The individual chosen will succeed Pope Shenouda III, who died in March. |
| Attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many Copts say they fear the country's new Islamist leaders. | |
| Pope Shenouda, who led the church for four decades, had urged officials to do more to address Copts' concerns. | Pope Shenouda, who led the church for four decades, had urged officials to do more to address Copts' concerns. |
| The shortlisted candidates are Bishop Raphael, Bishop Tawadros and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October. | The shortlisted candidates are Bishop Raphael, Bishop Tawadros and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October. |
| 'In God's hands' | 'In God's hands' |
| 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. | 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. |
| Yet the new pope may want to make his views known quickly on how prominent a role Islamic, or Sharia, law should play in the new constitution currently under negotiation. | Yet the new pope may want to make his views known quickly on how prominent a role Islamic, or Sharia, law should play in the new constitution currently under negotiation. |
| He will also need to calm fears that Copts could be squeezed out of government jobs, and even that new sectarian strife could erupt. | He will also need to calm fears that Copts could be squeezed out of government jobs, and even that new sectarian strife could erupt. |
| Their names have been written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the altar of St Mark's Cathedral in Cairo. | Their names have been written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the altar of St Mark's Cathedral in Cairo. |
| A blindfolded boy - one of 12 shortlisted children - will be asked to draw out one of the names later on Sunday. About 250 boys aged between five and eight initially applied for the role. | A blindfolded boy - one of 12 shortlisted children - will be asked to draw out one of the names later on Sunday. About 250 boys aged between five and eight initially applied for the role. |
| Strict measures are being taken to make sure there is no foul play during the televised ceremony: the three pieces of paper with candidates' names are all the same size and tied up the same way. | Strict measures are being taken to make sure there is no foul play during the televised ceremony: the three pieces of paper with candidates' names are all the same size and tied up the same way. |
| Copts say this process ensures the selection is in God's hands. | Copts say this process ensures the selection is in God's hands. |
| The chosen man will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November. | The chosen man will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November. |
| "This election is of great importance because choosing the head of the church is not an easy matter and it is of major importance to all Egyptians, both Christians and Muslims," the deputy head of the Alexandria Church, Roas Morkos, was quoted as saying by Reuters. | "This election is of great importance because choosing the head of the church is not an easy matter and it is of major importance to all Egyptians, both Christians and Muslims," the deputy head of the Alexandria Church, Roas Morkos, was quoted as saying by Reuters. |
| "It is also important how the pope will care for the needs of Christians and how he will carry the spirit of Pope Shenouda III in dealing with the state as well as our Muslim brothers and all other factions," he added. | "It is also important how the pope will care for the needs of Christians and how he will carry the spirit of Pope Shenouda III in dealing with the state as well as our Muslim brothers and all other factions," he added. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says no-one in Egypt expects the new pope to introduce radical changes to the deeply conservative church. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says no-one in Egypt expects the new pope to introduce radical changes to the deeply conservative church. |
| But whoever is chosen, our correspondent adds, will have a vital role in leading the Copts in a difficult time of transition following last year's revolution. | But whoever is chosen, our correspondent adds, will have a vital role in leading the Copts in a difficult time of transition following last year's revolution. |
| Pope Shenouda died in March at the age 88. | Pope Shenouda died in March at the age 88. |
| Under his leadership, the Coptic Church expanded significantly, including outside its traditional Egyptian base. | Under his leadership, the Coptic Church expanded significantly, including outside its traditional Egyptian base. |
| He was a passionate advocate of unity among the Christian churches, and also clashed with then President Anwar Sadat, particularly over their conflicting views on the future of Egypt's relationship with Israel. | He was a passionate advocate of unity among the Christian churches, and also clashed with then President Anwar Sadat, particularly over their conflicting views on the future of Egypt's relationship with Israel. |
| Coptic Christians have long complained of discrimination by the Egyptian state and the country's Muslim majority. | Coptic Christians have long complained of discrimination by the Egyptian state and the country's Muslim majority. |
| But when President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year and succeeded by the Muslim Brotherhood, their fears grew. | But when President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year and succeeded by the Muslim Brotherhood, their fears grew. |
| In October 2011, 25 people died in clashes with the security forces after a protest march in Cairo over the burning of a church. | In October 2011, 25 people died in clashes with the security forces after a protest march in Cairo over the burning of a church. |