Terror threat? Too far from centre of world, says Coptic Patriarch

Sydney
15 December 2002

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Terror threat? Too far from centre of world, says Coptic Patriarch

Pope Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, during his visit to Sydney this month

By Marilyn Rodrigues

Wherever Pope Shenouda III, the 79-year-old Coptic Orthodox patriarch, goes, a flurry of excitement follows, but he remains calm.

At least, that was the case when he arrived in Sydney this month for his sixth Australian visit.

Pope Shenouda III, the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark, spoke first to a packed scrum of media, faithful and onlookers at the airport upon his arrival in Sydney.

Asked what he thought about the threat of terrorist attacks in Australia, he answered that this is a land “too far from the centre of the world”.

“You are surrounded by so much water,” he said. “Don’t worry. We (Copts) pray for peace. We pray that war may not take place, or if there is a war it will be in a limited region.”

While in Sydney, the Coptic leader consecrated the relocated St Mary’s and St Mina’s Coptic Church at Bexley, visited more than 800 Coptic orthodox students from the three Coptic colleges in Sydney and laid a foundation stone for the Pope Shenouda III centre in Macquarie Fields.

The Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Kevin Manning, and Bishop Geoffrey Robinson – representing the Archbishop of Sydney, Archbishop George Pell – attended a dinner in his honour.

His itinerary also included meetings with the Premier, Bob Carr, the National Council of Churches and members of Rockdale City Council, which is home to the largest number of Coptic Orthodox Christians in the Sydney diocese (which includes Queensland and the Northern Territory).

He also received an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University.

Pope Shenouda III is known for his support of young people in the Church, for education and for ecumenism.

He is a former president of the World Council of Churches and current president of the Middle East Council of Churches.

He urged his flock in Sydney to work for unity with other Christian Churches, quoting Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

Pope Shenouda said: “Work for unity, acknowledging each others’ principles, and accept differences.”

There are 17 million Coptic Orthodox Christians around the world. Sydney’s Coptic community, which numbers 50,000, welcomed its first bishop, Bishop Daniel, in October.

The Coptic Church is an Eastern rite, but not in communion with Rome.

Indeed, Pope Shenouda III is the only Alexandrian pope to have visited the Vatican since the schism of 451.

In 1973 he signed a joint declaration with Pope Paul VI in which they agreed to co-operate to try to resolve the theological and practical differences existing between the Churches and so be able to proclaim the Gospel together to today’s world.

Pope John Paul II visited Egypt during the Jubilee year and was warmly received by the Coptic leader.

Pope Shenouda recently received a UNESCO award for religious tolerance.

When asked what has given him the most encouragement and support during his 31 years of papacy, Pope Shenouda III said that it was the progress of the Coptic Church, which is visible in the increasing number of Churches, theological colleges and priests around the world.

This progress is based on the help of the Holy Spirit and the co-operation of other Christian Churches, he said.