Pope formally welcomes new Coptic Catholic patriarch

Published: 2006-04-10

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The election of retired Bishop Antonios Naguib as patriarch of the Cairo-based Coptic Catholic Church was sealed April 6 when Pope Benedict XVI formally accepted his request for "ecclesial communion." The bishops of the Coptic Catholic Church elected the 71-year-old March 30 to succeed 86-year-old Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, who led the church for almost 20 years. As is customary for the patriarchs of the Eastern churches in union with Rome, the newly elected head of the church formally requests communion with the pope. The Vatican published the exchange of letters between Patriarch Naguib and Pope Benedict April 8. Expressing his "fidelity, veneration and obedience" to the pope, the patriarch promised "to be faithful to Our Lord and to do everything I can to serve the flock he has entrusted to me to the best of my ability."

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