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| Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians | Bishop Tawadros new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. | Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt's Coptic Christians, becoming leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. |
| 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. | 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 60-year-old succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who died in March aged 88. |
| He succeeds as attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many say they fear the country's new Islamist leaders. | He succeeds as attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many say they fear the country's new Islamist leaders. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'In God's hands' | 'In God's hands' |
| Their names were written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the church altar. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | |
| Copts say this process ensures the selection is in God's hands. | |
| 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, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo reports. | The new pope has studied in Britain, and has also run a medicine factory, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo reports. |
| He is a man of broad experience and with managerial skills, our correspondent says, adding that he will need all those talents to lead the Copts as they face an uncertain future in a country now debating the role of Islam following last year's revolution. | He is a man of broad experience and with managerial skills, our correspondent says, adding that he will need all those talents to lead the Copts as they face an uncertain future in a country now debating the role of Islam following last year's revolution. |
| Our correspondent says no-one in Egypt expects the new pope to introduce radical changes to the deeply conservative church. | Our correspondent says no-one in Egypt expects the new pope to introduce radical changes to the deeply conservative church. |
| Pope Shenouda died in March. Under his leadership, the Coptic Church expanded significantly, including outside its traditional Egyptian base. | Pope Shenouda died in March. 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. |
| Are you a Coptic Christian in Egypt? What's your reaction to the news? Send us your comments using the form below | Are you a Coptic Christian in Egypt? What's your reaction to the news? Send us your comments using the form below |