On Saturday evening thousands of Copts who had gathered at the courtyard of the cathedral were unable to pay their last respects to the deceased patriarch. On Saturday evening thousands of Copts who had gathered at the courtyard of the cathedral were unable to pay their last respects to the deceased patriarch. "We are not sure when this will be possible,” said one source. “Perhaps tomorrow.” Another source indicated that no one would be admitted into the presence of the pope until the day of the funeral, “which is being heldon Tuesdaythree days from now to make time for followers of the pope to come form all across Egypt and from abroad.” By Saturday evening, most presidential hopefuls, who had by and large made an effort to frequent Coptic mass since the end of the Mubarak regime, were offering their condolences. "With one or two exceptions we expect all presidential hopefuls to be present in the funeral mass," added the last source, indicating that all state bodies, political parties and groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, had already contacted the church: "Many have been asking how they might pay their respects and participate in the funeral mass." Meanwhile, official and church sources said a high level state representation is scheduled for the funeral mass. The head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) Hussein Tantawi is expected to appear at the Cathedral to offer his condolences while the number two man of SCAF, Sami Annan, is expected to be present throughout the mass. Tantawy gave three days of official holiday to copts. Annan and several SCAF members were invited to attend Christmas Mass on 6 January despite the outrage of the Coptic public at the military's conspicuous involvement in carnage that befell Coptic demonstrators on 9 Octobers while they protested a series of attacks on Coptic churches across Egypt. Diplomats and some foreign dignitaries are also expected at the funeral which will probably take part at the Abbassiya Cathedral before the coffin is taken to a monastery in Wadi Al-Natroun for burial. Meanwhile, most presidential hopefuls as well as SCAF, MPs and political activists have issued statements mourning the loss of Pope Shenouda.
