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General Congregation Council to nominate three bishops, one of which to succeed Shenouda The media advisor of the Egyptian Evangelical Church clarifies the process of choosing the successor of Pope Shenouda III
The General Congregation Council, which is part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, will nominate three bishops, one of which is to succeed Pope Shenouda III who died on Saturday at the age of 88. According to Ekram Lamei, the media adviser of the Egyptian Evangelical Church, the process will include “the will of God” to choose the new Pope. “When the pope dies, the General Congregation Council convenes to nominate three bishops to occupy the position,” Lamei said in a phone call with state television channel Nile News. “The names of the three bishops will be written on three papers, and a child will randomly pick one of the papers. This way is used to in order for the will of God to play a role in the process.” Ahram Online has learnt that bishops Moussa and Bishoy are two of the three expected to be nominated for the highest Christian position in Egypt. Bishoy is the bishop of Damietta while Moussa is the Orthodox Church's bishop of the youth. Sources close to the church told Ahram Online Shenouda's funeral is likely to be held after three days to accommodate the huge number of people expected to show up, including 15 world leaders who have already said they would attend the funeral. Shenouda has died on Saturday after a long battle against illness.