Five candidates chosen for Coptic papal elections

The papal election committee selected five candidates to run for elections on November 24. The candidates are Monk Pachomius Al Soriany, Bishop Tawadros, Bishop Raphael, Monk Raphael Ava Mina and Monk Saravim Al Soriany.   The name of the elected pope will be announced on December 2. The committee excluded 12 candidates from the race, among who were Bishop Bishoy and Bishop Youannes. Bishop Pachomios said the candidates have been chosen carefully, and said those who were excluded were still “virtuous bishops and monks.” The papal election has raised conflicts inside the Coptic Orthodox Church between the Holy Synod and a number of priests. This is due to the 1957 regulation that excluded bishops of Parish from running in the papal election. A lawsuit was filed against Bishop Pachomius’ appointment as the acting patriarch because it violated a regulation that states: “If the Pope dies, the Holy Synod and the general Congregation Council have to hold a meeting within seven days to choose one of the Bishops to be the acting patriarch by a presidential decree till the papal election”. Justice Farid Tanagho, vice chairman of the state council and chairman of administrative Judiciary, decided to postpone the hearing of the case to October 16.