The Holy Synod last week held a meeting under acting patriarch Bishop Pachomius in the presence members of the General Millī Council and Coptic Endowments Organization to continue discussions on procedures to elect a new pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

In a press conference after the meeting, Bishop Thomas of al-Qūsīyah and Millī Council member Counselor Munsif Sulaymān said the deadline to submit nominations for the Saint Mark chair expired on May 26, adding 17 candidates are competing over the post – one metropolitan, six bishops and 10 monks. [Viktor Salāmah, Watanī, June 3, p. 1] Read text in Arabic