Egypt's Copts to vote for new Pope on Monday

The death of Shenuda, who headed the church for four decades, set in motion the process to elect a new patriarch to lead the community through the post-revolution era in Egypt, which is marked by increased sectarian tension.

Five candidates — two bishops and three monks — are vying to become the 118^th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa in the Holy See of St Mark the Apostle.

A council of senior clergy, current and former Coptic public officials, MPs, local councillors and journalists will cast a vote for their preferred candidate.

The names of the top three vote-getters will then be written on separate pieces of paper and placed in a box on the altar of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo.

On November 4, a child will be blindfolded and asked to choose one of the papers.

The person chosen will be enthroned in a ceremony on November 18.

The candidates are Bishop Rafael, 54, a medical doctor and current assistant bishop for central Cairo; Bishop Tawadros of the Nile Delta province of Beheira, 60; Father Rafael Ava Mina, the oldest of the five candidates at 70; Father Seraphim Al Souriani, 53 and Father Pachomious Al Suriani, 49.

They have been visiting churches and preaching across the country ahead of the voting.

Copts around the world were asked to fast for three days before the voting, and a second period of fasting will begin on October 31, said Bishop Paul, spokesman for the selection committee.

Egypt’s Copts, who make up six to 10 percent of the 83 million population, have regularly complained of discrimination and marginalisation, even under the secular regime of president Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled last year.