Bishop Tawadros, 60, soon to be Pope Tawadros II greets well-wishers, not shown, after being named the 118th Coptic Pope in the Wadi Natrun Monastery complex northwest of Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. Egypt's ancient Coptic Christian church named a new pope on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 to spiritually guide the community through a time when many fear for their future with the rise of Islamists to power and deterioration in police powers after last year's uprising. (AP Photo/Roger Anis, El Shorouk Newspaper) EGYPT OUT
Bishop Tawadros, 60, soon to be Pope Tawadros II greets well-wishers, not shown, after being named the 118th Coptic Pope in the Wadi Natrun Monastery complex northwest of Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. Egypt's ancient Coptic Christian church named a new pope on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 to spiritually guide the community through a time when many fear for their future with the rise of Islamists to power and deterioration in police powers after last year's uprising. (AP Photo/Roger Anis, El Shorouk Newspaper) EGYPT OUT
FILE -- In this Sunday, March 18, 2012 file photo, Archbishops stand next to the body of Pope Shenouda III seated on the throne of Mar Morqos, or St. Mark, as mourners gather for the viewing of the patriarch at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, March 18, 2012. Egypt's ancient Coptic Christian church named a new pope on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 to spiritually guide the community through a time when many fear for their future with the rise of Islamists to power and deterioration in police powers after last year's uprising. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, file)
FILE -- In this Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 file photo, a Coptic clergymen, center, casts his ballot for the new Coptic Pope in elections at the main Coptic cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's ancient Coptic Christian church named a new pope on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 to spiritually guide the community through a time when many fear for their future with the rise of Islamists to power and deterioration in police powers after last year's uprising. (AP Photo/Sami Wahib, file)
In this Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 photo, Coptic Bishops pray prior to a press conference held to announce the three finalist candidates for the new Coptic Pope in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's ancient Coptic Christian church named a new pope on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 to spiritually guide the community through a time when many fear for their future with the rise of Islamists to power and deterioration in police powers after last year's uprising. (AP Photo/George Mohsen, El Shorouk Newspaper) EGYPT OUT
In this Saturday Nov. 3, 2012 photo, young boys wait anxiously to hear which one of them will be selected to chose the new pope in a ceremony where the lucky boy will be blindfolded and pull one of three names from a crystal chalice. Egypt's ancient Coptic Christian church named a new pope on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 to spiritually guide the community through a time when many fear for their future with the rise of Islamists to power and deterioration in police powers after last year's uprising. (AP Photo/Mohammed Abu Zeid)
CAIRO (AP) ? A blindfolded child reached into a crystal chalice and pulled out a slip of paper ? and Egypt's Coptic Christians had a new pope.
The colorful but solemn ceremony at the Cairo cathedral of the troubled minority reflected none of the tensions outside. It was the end of a complicated process that began when the church's charismatic leader for four decades, Pope Shenouda III, died in March at the age of 88.
His main task had been to maneuver his flock through the obstacles facing a minority of 10 percent in a predominantly Muslim nation. For years, followers complained of systematic discrimination.
A nominations committee narrowed the field of Shenouda's possible successors to five, and a vote by 2,400 church leaders chose three of them.
That set up the final act.
At the Coptic Cathedral, there was a moment of silence. Then a boy, himself chosen by lottery, his face covered by a dark blue cloth decorated with religious images, was led to the chalice. Copts believe that his hand would be guided by God. He reached into the vessel and pulled out the name of Bishop Tawadros, who will be the next spiritual leader of the Copts.
On Nov. 18 he will be ordained as Pope Tawadros II, the 118th pope of the ancient Coptic Orthodox Church.
His challenges will be even more daunting than those that faced Shenouda.
Over the past year, Islamists have risen to power in Egypt, and Copts charge that discrimination, persecution and physical attacks by Islamic extremists have increased.
The new pope will have to walk the fine line of representing his people's concerns to the government without becoming a tool of the regime on the one hand or alienating Egypt's rulers on the other, and all the while maintaining the respect of his followers.
Associated Presskim richards robert hegyes mary louise parker mary louise parker cher morgellons nhl all star draft
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