Meanwhile, Bishop Mūsá of Youth said on Wednesday (April 18) that the church stands on an equal distance toward all presidential candidates and does not back a certain candidate, adding Christians have all rights to elect whoever they believe would achieve the interests of the nation.

“I am not going to run in the new pope elections out of appreciation for the deceased Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III and also because my health conditions would not be up to the great responsibilities of the post,” said Bishop Mūsá during a press conference following a Holy Synod meeting. [Ashraf Sādiq, al-Ahrām, April 19, p. 7] Read text in Arabic