Important Information Concerning the Election of the New Pope

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.