Archpriest Andarāwus ‘Azīz Sulaymān, who obtained a court ruling in 2002 to return to his priestly position, said he received a phone call from a woman working at the papal office, adding the phone conversation revealed information about the destiny of some priests and bishops who were banished during the time of Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III.

Father Andarāwus, an author and defrocked Coptic Orthodox priest who was known for his liberal opinions and opposition to Pope Shenouda, said he obtained promises that he will return to the church along with other banished clergymen at the earliest convenience.

He noted that a female administrative worker he declined to name was coordinating with a former senior military official and the current director of the papal seat to arrange for his return and that she asked him to keep silent in the coming period and avoid criticizing Bishop Bīshūy, the secretary of the Holy Synod, until the pope elections are over.

The church has reportedly prepared a list of Coptic Orthodox clerics who have been approved to return to their parishes and churches after acting patriarch Bishop Pachomius ratifies the decisions.

The list includes Bishop Ammonius of Luxor, Bishop Baphnotius of Samallūt, Bishop Mattias of al-Mahallah al-Kubrá, former monk Barsūm al-Muharraqī, former priest of al-Giza parish Mīnā Ishaq, priest Hābīl Tawfīq Sa‘īd a self-proclaimed pope who tried to begin a new denomination of Coptic Christianity, Archpriest Andarāwus ‘Azīz Sulaymān and Father Bisādah Zakī, former priest in Arḍ al-Liwā', Giza, who had been defrocked on charges of corruption. [Jamāl George, al-Fajr, April 19, p. 23] Read original text in Arabic