{{Bishop Tawadros has been chosen as the new pope of Egypt’s Coptic Christians, becoming the leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East.}}
His name was selected from a bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in Cairo’s St Mark’s Cathedral. Three candidates had been shortlisted.
The 60-year-old succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who died in March aged 88.
Attacks on Copts are on the increase, and many Copts say they fear the country’s new Islamist leaders.
The other two candidates were Bishop Raphael and Father Raphael Ava Mina. They were chosen in a ballot by a council of some 2,400 Church and community officials in October.
Their names were written on pieces of paper and put in crystal balls sealed with wax on the church altar.
A blindfolded boy – one of 12 shortlisted children – then drew out the name of Bishop Tawadros.
Strict measures were in place to make sure there is no foul play during the televised ceremony: the three pieces of paper with candidates’ names were all the same size and tied up the same way.
Copts say this process ensures the selection is in God’s hands.
Bishop Tawadros will be enthroned in a ceremony on 18 November.
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