I tisdags begravdes Arabvärldens störste kristne ledare, Shenouda III, den 117:e påven över Alexandria och patriark över S:t Markus stift. Shenouda III begravdes i det egyptiska kloster där han satt i husarrest i på 1980-talet. Den koptiske påven satt 41 år på sin tron. SKR:s generalsekreterare har skickat kondoleanser till Hans Högvördighet, Biskop Abakir vid den Koptiska Ortodoxa kyrkan i Södertälje:
Bishop Abna Abakir Christian Council of Sweden gives greetings in your loss of H.H. Pope Shenouda lll. We are thankful for the great contribution he gave in dialogues between churches and know that he was giving time and thoughts for unity in Christ. The Christian Council of Sweden, Churches together, will remember the Coptic Orthodox Church in our prayers and we give thanks to God for H.H Pope Shenouda lll. Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves. Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord. This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that we would be the Lord of the dead and of the living (Romans 14:7-9)
For Christian Council of Sweden Rev. Karin Wiborn General Secretary