Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria, Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate, left Cairo yesterday heading toward the United States to conduct medical examinations and X-rays at Cleveland Clinic in the United States of America. Escorting the Pope was Bishop Yu'anis, his personal secretary, and Bishop Jeremiah, secretary of the papal office. At the airport he was seen off by many bishops. A source in the Patriarchate confirmed that travel plans came because the Pope needed a blood transfusion, and said: "The doctors advised him to go quickly to the United States and not to wait until his health deteriorates." The source added that this is the reason that prevented the Pope to meet with the demonstrators from the governorate of SohagBalyana to object to the disrobing of father Paula Fouad who was stripped of his priesthood. They left the cathedral after the church made the decision to re-examine the case of Paula on the Virgin Festival Day on August 22. The Pope called for (before traveling to the United States yesterday) a reopening of an investigation on the alleged visit of Dr. Ayman Nour, the founder of the Al-Ghad (tomorrow) party, to the Marjirjis Sporting church, the reception of priests and people, to conduct prayers for his success in his political career. A source close to the Pope stressed that the church should not intervene in politics so as not to become political platforms used in the publicity for themselves. However, Marjirjis Sporting church denied receiving Nour. Reverend Mark David, a priest of the Church, confirmed to Al-Masry Al-Youm that priests that were in the youth meeting last Thursday were surprised by the presence of the security of the Church who informed them that Nour was there, and that he requested to meet them, but they refused to see him and demanded he leave. David said: "We are not allowed to do or have anything to do with Ayman Nour, as we have not seen him in the first place. When he tried to walk up the stairs to meet us, the security personnel prevented him, and demanded he leave, thus we concluded our meeting without seeing him."
On the other hand, Major General Adel Labib, Governor of Alexandria, denied the recent reports on the existence of differences and problems with the Pope, saying that their relationship is excellent and there is constant contact between them.
Labib told Al-Masry Al-Youm on the sidelines of the inspection by the Minister of Transport Mohamed Mansour in Alexandria this: "I do not know who promoted rumors of the demolition of buildings belonging to the church in Alexandria."
