Pope Tawadros II

Pope Tawadros II
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Tawadros II
Honorific-prefix	Pope
Birth name	Wagih Sobhy Boyal
Birth date	4 November 1952
Birth place	Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt
Occupation	Clergyman
Nationality	Egyptian
Religion	Coptic Orthodox Church
Title	Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Predecessor	Shenouda III
Ordained	1989 (monastic tonsure)
Enthroned	18 November 2012

Pope Tawadros II is the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, serving as the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church since his enthronement in 2012. As a native of Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, and a former engineer, he succeeded Shenouda III amid significant political change in Egypt. His papacy has been marked by administrative reforms, ecumenical engagement, and navigation of complex relations with the Egyptian Armed Forces, House of Representatives (Egypt), and international Christian bodies such as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.

Early life and education

Born Wagih Sobhy Boyal in 1952 in Mansoura, Tawadros studied at Mansoura University where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering, later working as an engineer in the oil industry and at Alexandria-area facilities. His early life intersected with prominent Egyptian institutions including Al-Azhar University by the nature of national religious discourse and the milieu of Coptic identity in Modern Egypt. He served in the Egyptian military during the era following the Suez Crisis and the administrations of presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak, experiences that shaped his awareness of state-church relations and national policies.

Religious formation and monasticism

Tawadros entered monastic life at St. Pishoy Monastery in the Nitrian Desert where he was tonsured and took the name "Tawadros" after the martyr Saint Theodore. He was ordained a monk under the guidance of elder monks influenced by figures such as Pope Shenouda III and the tradition of Coptic monasticism tracing back to Anthony the Great and Paul of Thebes. His theological formation included studies in Patristics and liturgical tradition within the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, and he undertook pastoral work linked to dioceses such as Beheira and communities connected to Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo.

Election and enthronement as Pope

Following the death of Pope Shenouda III in March 2012, the Holy Synod convened a process that culminated in Tawadros's election on 4 November 2012, amid a context shaped by the 2011 Egyptian revolution, the rise and fall of the Freedom and Justice Party, and the presidency of Mohamed Morsi. The selection involved the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod, the Synodal committee for papal elections, and traditional procedures rooted in canonical law originating from the Council of Chalcedon and earlier ecumenical councils. His enthronement on 18 November 2012 at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Abbasiya) was attended by delegations representing the Egyptian government, other oriental and eastern churches including the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and international observers.

Leadership and reforms

As Patriarch, Tawadros instituted administrative reforms within the Coptic Orthodox Church including reorganization of diocesan structures, clergy appointments, and financial oversight mechanisms aligned with canons observed by the Holy Synod. He promoted liturgical renewal and pastoral training, engaging with theological faculties such as Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary and dialogues involving the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. His leadership also addressed issues of church construction, heritage preservation at sites like The Hanging Church and monastery conservancies at Wadi El Natrun, while navigating legal frameworks like Egyptian property laws administered by the Ministry of Justice (Egypt) and municipal authorities in Cairo.

Relations with the Egyptian state and other churches

Tawadros has maintained working relations with successive Egyptian administrations, including presidents Mohamed Morsi and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, engaging on matters of security, minority rights, and national reconciliation following sectarian incidents such as attacks on churches in Minya and Alexandria. He has cooperated with state institutions such as the Ministry of Interior (Egypt) on protection of religious sites and worked within inter-religious forums alongside leaders from Al-Azhar and representatives of the Sunni Islam establishment. Ecumenically, he has participated in dialogues and joint statements with leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, including meetings with Pope Francis, and exchanges with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Anglican Communion.

Social initiatives and public role

Under his papacy, the Coptic Church expanded charitable activities via institutions like Coptic Orphans, diocesan social services, and healthcare initiatives responding to crises, collaborating with NGOs and international partners to support refugees and internally displaced persons impacted by conflicts in the Greater Middle East. Tawadros has been a visible public figure at national events, making statements on national unity, counterterrorism, and social cohesion that reference institutions including the Egyptian Armed Forces and civilian authorities. He has also overseen educational programs for catechesis and youth engagement linked to seminaries and diocesan youth ministries.

Controversies and criticism

Tawadros's tenure has faced criticism from some clergy and laity over issues such as perceived centralization of authority, disputes over clerical appointments, and responses to church attacks, with critics citing interactions involving the Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod and administrative decisions affecting monastic communities. Human rights organizations and opposition figures have at times challenged the Church's stance on matters including conversion laws and the role of the state in church affairs, referencing legal cases adjudicated in Egyptian courts. Additionally, debates have arisen over ecumenical engagement with the Roman Catholic Church and dialogues with other Christian bodies, reflecting tensions between tradition and reform within the global Oriental Orthodox communion.

Category:Coptic Orthodox Popes Category:Egyptian religious leaders Category:1952 births Category:Living people