Bishop Tawadros II, his new name after being chosen, has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt's Coptic Church, becoming the leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. His name was selected from a bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral. Thus, he has become the pope Egyptian Coptic pope number 118 as the successor to “Pope Shenouda III”, who died last March, aged 88. Three candidates had been shortlisted, he other two candidates were “Bishop Raphael” and “Father Raphael Ava Mina”. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October. Their names were written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the church altar. A blindfolded boy - one of 12 shortlisted children - then drew out the name of “Bishop Tawadros”. Strict measures were in place to make sure there is no foul play during the televised ceremony: the three pieces of paper with candidates' names were all the same size and tied up the same way. Copts say this process ensures that the selection is in God's hands. “Bishop Tawadros” will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November. "This election is of great importance because choosing the head of the church is not an easy matter and it is of major importance to all Egyptians, both Christians and Muslims", the deputy head of the Alexandria Church, “Roas Morkos”, was quoted as saying by Reuters. "It is also important how the pope will care for the needs of Christians and how he will carry the spirit of “Pope Shenouda III” in dealing with the state as well as our Muslim brothers and all other factions," he added. No one in Egypt expects the new pope to introduce radical changes to the deeply conservative church after what “Pope Shenouda III” has made for Egyptian Christians. Under his leadership, the Coptic Church expanded significantly, including outside its traditional Egyptian base. He was a passionate advocate of unity among the Christian churches, and also clashed with then President Anwar Sadat, particularly over their conflicting views on the future of Egypt's relationship with Israel.
