Egypt's Coptic Pope back from US health check

AFP - Thursday, May 8 07:16 pm

CAIRO (AFP) - The head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenuda III, returned to Cairo on Thursday after medical tests in the United States, an aide said.

"Shenuda III's condition is satisfactory. He underwent a medical examination to check his health after suffering fatigue," said Tharwat Bassily of the Coptic Orthodox Lay Council which manages the church's affairs.

The 84-year-old pope left on Monday aboard a private jet owned by Egyptian billionaire Copt Nagib Sawiris to Cleveland, Ohio where he had an hour-long medical test, church sources said.

He had gone to Cleveland on the advice of his doctors there after suffering severe kidney pain, according to a source close to Shenuda.

Shenuda was welcomed back to Cairo by around 300 worshippers, church sources said, adding that he would resume his normal schedule on Friday.

He has made several health-related trips abroad over the past two years.

Shenuda is the 117th successor of Saint Mark, who according to tradition founded the Coptic Church in the first century AD. He has headed the church since 1971.

Copts are estimated to make up six to 10 percent of Egypt's 76 million people and are the largest Christian community in the Middle East.

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