In Cairo to conduct the Divine Liturgy of the Third Sunday of Lent at the Holy Patriarchal Church of St Nicholas, His Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, as soon as he was informed of the falling asleep of the late Patriarch Shenouda III of the Copts, made the following statement:
“The late Patriarch of the Copts Shenouda III was undoubtedly a great religious personality. He became associated many years ago with the Church of Alexandria as he was personally acquainted with the late Patriarchs Nicholas VI, Parthenios III and Petros VII of Alexandria, with whom he collaborated and was in contact on a local and international level, particularly on issues of inter-Church dialogue.
Present at our enthronement ceremony at the Patriarchal See of the Apostle Mark in October 2004, the late Patriarch Shenouda III of the Coptic Church maintained perfect relations with the Second Throne patriarchate of Alexandria, as well as a common understanding particularly on issues of the respect and protection of religious freedom.
We wish to express to both the venerable Hierarchs, as well as to the pious flock of the Coptic Church our deepest condolences, and we pray that the successor to the Patriarchal Throne of the Copts will be worthy of the heritage of the late Shenouda III”.
