Grieving Copts pay last respects to spiritual leader

Thousands of grieving Egyptian Copts streamed into St Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo to catch a last glimpse of their spiritual leader Pope Shenuda III, taking pictures and weeping.

Shenuda died on Saturday aged 88, following a long illness, setting in motion the process to elect a new patriarch for the Middle East’s largest Christian community.

He led the Copts, estimated at 10% of Egypt’s population of more than 80 million, for the best part of a generation, during which the country was hit by a wave of Islamic militancy from which he sought to protect his people.

Shenuda’s body, dressed in a golden crown and formal robes, with a gold knobbed staff cradled on his shoulder, was placed upright on the papal throne in the cathedral where it will remain on display until his funeral tomorrow.

A bishop knelt pressing his head to the throne, as thousands of tearful worshippers in black packed the church, hoping to get a final blessing.

Based on wishes stated in his will, Shenuda will be buried at St Bishoy monastery of Wadi Natrun in the Nile Delta, where he spent his time in exile after a dispute with late president Anwar Sadat, state media reported.

Bishop Pachomious of the Nile Delta province of Beheira has taken over papal duties for two months until a council of senior clergy meets to choose a new pope, state television said.

Shenuda had suffered health problems for years, travelling to the United States frequently for treatment.

Pope Benedict XVI, head of the Roman Catholic Church, offered prayers for Shenuda, the Vatican said.