By Sameh Fawzy His Holiness Pope Shenouda III received a hero's welcome upon his return to the main Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, following the successful surgical operation on his backbone conducted in the United States. His return came in the midst of a controversy over the recently-organised conference on the role of Coptic secularists, which was held by some Coptic opponents to what they call the domination of the church clergy over Coptic affairs, both within the church and in society at large. Although the conference was boycotted by church clergy and Coptic public figures, it could be said to augur the start of the forthcoming battle over the succession in the Coptic Orthodox Church. The unstable medical condition of Pope Shenouda, 83 years old, seems to be a stimulus for those who want to gain a future foothold in the church's affairs. They include, to a varying extent, an array of disparate groups like business persons, state officials, intellectuals and the clergy. This indicates the difficult times which the Coptic community may face, towards end of the reign of the charismatic Pope, whose immense role has been attested to by the church's expansion, the involvement in domestic and international affairs, and the shaping of Copts' attitudes toward public life. Undoubtedly, the vacuum expected with the absence of Pope Shenouda will be difficult to fill. Pope Shenouda assumed the Papacy in 1970. At this time he was a prominent Coptic bishop, whose strong popular following was a clear sign of his charismatic leadership. While the Nasserist state relentlessly dominated, or even suffocated, all popular institutions, Bishop Shenouda (as he was), was the most popular religious figure in Coptic life, whose Friday meeting the Coptic masses found reformist and relevant to their daily life. On the political level, his provocative discourse toward the Jewish state in occupied Palestine, his thorough understanding of Arab civilisation, and his clash with President Anwar El-Sadat all turned him into the most influential Coptic leader for decades, whose contribution extended well beyond the traditional boundaries of the church. A talented, knowledgeable and intelligent religious leader like Pope Shenouda is not easily replaced, and his absence will definitely bring unhappy transitional moments for Copts. This week's speaker is a journalist and political analyst.
