Pope Tawadros II, the pope of Alexandria and the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Photo courtesy of The Spokesman of the Coptic Church.
Speaking to the Holy Synod late on Saturday, the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark said he had received medical advice to take a period of convalescence after a successful procedure.
He thanked members of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt and abroad for messages and calls of support, including metropolitans, bishops, clergy, monks, nuns, deacons, and lay members, saying the expressions of support were deeply appreciated.
Pope Tawadros also thanked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for contacting him by phone, as well as the Prime Minister, Ministers, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayyeb, heads of state institutions, and other public figures for their “sincere messages”.
“We thank God for health, which is a blessing granted to us so that we may invest it in doing good,” he said.
The Pope returned to the Papal Residence in Cairo on Saturday evening from Austria, where he spent two weeks undergoing medical follow-up and surgery.
Members of the Holy Synod received him upon arrival and accompanied him to the reception hall, according to the Church.
During the meeting, Pope Tawadros briefed bishops on his medical condition and treatment, thanking God for his recovery.
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