Elections for the Egyptian Orthodox Coptic Church's 118th pope will begin on 24 November, church spokesman Bishop Paul announced on Wednesday.

On 2 December, one of three final nominees will be chosen – by a blindfolded child, in accordance with Coptic papal tradition – following mass at St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo's Abbasiya district, according to Paul.

Before the three final papal nominees' names are announced, Egyptian Copts will observe a three-day fast on 1, 2 and 3 October. Copts will observe another three-day fast on 19, 20 and 21 November, and a third on 26, 27 and 28 November in the immediate run-up to the final election on 2 December.

The Coptic Church's long-serving leader, Pope Shenouda III, died on 17 March at the age of 88 after leading the church for some 40 years. Since then, Coptic Bishop Bakhomious has served as interim pope until elections are held.