“The Dutch journalist attacked late Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III when he said that the pope deepened Christians’ feelings of persecution by exaggerating on estimations regarding the Coptic population,” said Bishop Bīshūy, who runs in the papal election to sit on the Saint Mark chair.

The Egyptian Orthodox prelate also said that Hulsman’s statements that the actual number of Copts was five million and that all the church’s estimations in this respect were “nonsense” are unacceptable, adding he took a decision two years ago not to speak to the press because journalists “are trying to find faults with and attack the church”.

Meanwhile, Bishop Mūsá of Youth said his decision not to run in the papal election was taken due to “health reasons and aging” not because he refuses the nominations of bishops for the post.

Bishop Mūsá said he has decided twice not to run for the position and even notified the nominations committee but under the pressure of his supporters he agreed to run, noting he, however, could not continue and announced his withdrawal from the election race for the third time and the Holy Synod accepted the decision. [Mustafá Rahūmah, al-Watan, June 4, p. 9] Read original text in Arabic