Mourning the Loss of a Great Leader

The death of pope Shenouda III, who died at the age of 88 on Saturday, has certainly shaken the nation. Shenouda, who served as the 117th leader of Egypt’s Orthodox Church since 1971, always called for enhancing unity and harmony among the country’s Muslim and Christian communities. He has been, and will probably always be, remembered as a great spiritual leader of the Coptic community, who’s also tremendously admired by many Muslims. But as the Christian community is still mourning the loss of Shenouda, discussions of who will be elected next have already begun. Some Copts also expressed their fear of their future in the country as well, after losing their respected leader, particularly when reports of the postponement of electing another patriarch till Egypt chooses a president came out. Today, as the Christian community says its last farewells to the pope, here are our picks of the word on the street: “I don’t know what to think now. We, as a Christian family, are still troubled by his loss. It’s so hard to believe. I don’t believe anyone will be capable to fill his place properly, or as the way he perfectly did.” Hany George, 37, Door Man “I think we shouldn’t be already thinking of electing another patriarch now, neither should we be discussing it out of respect to Shenouda. You don’t just move on that easily, when a leader like Shenouda has just left our world.” Lara Asaad, 26, Consultant “The future seems dim, and I don’t know who would we be able to trust as much as we trusted pope Shenouda.” Farid Magdy, 31, Marketer   “If the church says there’s no need to rush in electing another patriarch, then I might have to agree. They know better than us, and currently the Christian community is pre-occupied with the tragic news. Hoping for the best though.” Waleed Bedair, 23, Engineer “I don’t get the reason of why they need to postpone electing another pope till the Egypt’s presidential elections are over. The relation between both seems irrelevant to me to be frank.” Miram Saad, 33, housewife