CWNews.com - 20090121 - Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, the former Patriarch of Alexandria and head of the Coptic Catholic Church, died in Cairo on January 20 at the age of 89. The Egyptian prelate, who was elected as patriarch by the Coptic Catholic Synod in 1986, led the Egyptian Christian community through 20 difficult years before his declining health prompted his retirement in 2006. He was named to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
Egypt's ancient Christian community has faced increasing pressure and occasional violence from Muslim zealots. During his term of leadership Patriarch Stephanos did his best to minimize conflicts and to form friendly relations with Muslim leaders, particularly at the influential Al-Azhar University in Cairo. He played host to the visit by Pope John Paul II to Egypt in 2000, which included a stop at Al-Azhar.
In a message of condolence to Patriarch Antonios Naguib, the current head of the Coptic Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI praised the deceased patriarch for having "committed himself with zeal and simplicity to the service of the People of God, in a spirit of dialogue and coexistence with everyone."
Most of Egypt's approximately 12 million Christians are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Coptic Catholic Church accounts for about 200,000 believers. With the death of Cardinal Ghattas there are now 189 members of the College of Cardinals. Of these 116 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote in a papal election.
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