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Your Holiness,
It is with gratitude to God that I congratulate you on behalf of the fellowship of Christian churches of the World Council of Churches on your election as the 118th pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Axios!
Your new spiritual leadership in the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is the most significant Christian presence in the Middle East, is a tremendous task. We believe that the voice of the steady Coptic Orthodox Church will remain strong under your guidance and your witness to the Lord will bring new breath to the long and honorable history of the Coptic Orthodox Church which today is spread throughout the world.
Due to our significant history of collaboration, we hope that the Coptic Orthodox Church under your leadership will continue its active involvement in the life of the World Council of Churches. We are aware of your striving towards unity and love between the various communities in Egypt and we pray that your ministry, in these uncertain times, will be strong in the quest for freedom, equality, justice and peace for and between all Egyptians, your leadership will be significant for the Christian presence in the Middle East as well as among the different communities in the region.
We pray for peaceful time to accompany your holy ministry for the welfare of the Church and of your flock. May your episcopal gift for welcoming young generations in the life of the Church become exemplary to our fellowship of churches so that Christian youth be of one mind and the God of love and peace will be with them in all their activities.
God has chosen you to guide the people of the Coptic Orthodox Church with your personal humility and meekness. May God multiply the fruits of love entrusted to you. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
In Christ, our Lord,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary
