Tawadros II
Tawadros II,
1963–, pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church (see CoptsCopts, the native Christian minority of Egypt; estimates of the number of Copts in Egypt range from 5% to 17% of the population. Copts are not ethnically distinct from other Egyptians; they are a cultural remnant, i.e.
..... Click the link for more information. ), 2012–; successor of Shenouda IIIShenouda III,
1923–2012, pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church (see Copts), 1971–2012; successor of Cyril VI. Born Nazeer Gayed, he attended Cairo Univ. (B.A. 1947) and the Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary (grad. 1949), becoming a teacher.
..... Click the link for more information. . Born Wagih Sobhy Baky Soliman, he studied pharmacy at Alexandria Univ. (grad. 1975), then entered the Coptic Seminary (grad. 1983) and worked in the pharmaceutical industry until entering the Monastery of St. Pishoy in 1986. He was ordained a monk in 1988 and a priest in 1989, and became bishop of Beheira in 1997. Tawadros II was enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in 2012.