Important Information Concerning the Election of the New Pope

Grant, O Lord, to confirm for us a good shepherd according to Your Heart who will shepherd Your people in purity and righteousness.

On March 17, 2012, our Lord gave eternal rest to His faithful servant and steward of the Coptic Orthodox Church for more than four decades, the Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of blessed memory. The departure of His Holiness forever changed our lives.

As we pray and entreat the Lord to raise up for us “a good shepherd according to His Heart who will shepherd His people in purity in righteousness,” it is important that we be mindful of the Holy Canons of the Church as expressed in Her divinely inspired Tradition.

The threshold issue relating to the Holy Canons and the election of the new Pope is whether the Pope may be chosen from among the metropolitans and diocesan bishops (i.e., those who have already been enthroned in a diocese as opposed to general bishops who have no diocese.) His Grace Bishop Serapion, along with the Clergy Synod of the Diocese and many others, have been active in calling for faithfulness to the Holy Canons and Tradition of the Church in choosing the next Pope. It is our sincere belief that the next Pope will be God’s loving choice only if he is chosen and elected in the right way in a manner consistent with the divinely inspired Canons and Tradition of the Church. The following sections reflect the proper understanding and supporting research.

• A Statement from the Clergy Synod of the 
Diocese of Los Angeles Regarding the 
Non-Canonical Action of Choosing the Patriarch 
from among the Diocesan Bishops

  The initial statement of His Grace Bishop Serapion and the Clergy Synod of the Diocese issued on May 13 in Arabic and English

• Clergy Synod of the British Orthodox Church Issues Statement Regarding the Papal Election

  A statement from the British Orthodox Church within the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate agreeing with the Diocese of Los Angeles’ May 13 statement

• Choosing the Patriarch: Lessons from the History of our Glorious Church

  A landmark comprehensive summary of research on the non-canonical action of electing a Metropolitan or Diocesan Bishop as Patriarch issued by His Grace Bishop Serapion on July 12, 2012

• Can a Diocesean Bishop be Nominated for the Papacy?

  Comprehensive and convincing research and supporting evidence on the non-canonical action of electing a metropolitan or diocesan bishop as Patriarch by His Grace Bishop Youssef of the Diocese of the Southern United States

• Open Letter to the Holy Synod from H.G. Bishop Demetrius

  Is it not more seemly that we choose one of those monks to become the next Patriarch? And by doing so, we will give rest to our consciences and ourselves…