Pope Shenouda's health is stable and reassuring, the pope's secretary told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Saturday. Bishop Armia denied reports that the Church is praying for the Pope due to a sharp deterioration in his health. He added that the Church prays daily for the safety of the Church, the pope and all officials in Egypt now. Pope Shenouda, 89, is the 117th pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and patriarch of the St. Mark Cathedral. He has been suffering from kidney and heart ailments. State-run news agency MENA said Saturday that Coptic churches performed a special prayer to bless the pope and help him recover and get over his recent crisis. A papal source said Shenouda had started a naturopathy course recommended by doctors after undergoing spinal injections last week last due to severe pain in the lower back. The doctors advised Pope Shenouda to rest and not to carry out his usual activities. The source denied the pope would be receiving treatment abroad until his condition improves. He said a prominent medical team is currently monitoring the pope's condition at the papal residence. Social network users launched pages calling for prayers for the recovery of Pope Shenouda after he appeared in a state of fatigue during his weekly sermon on Wednesday and was forced to shorten his speech.
