His Holiness Pope Tawadros II in liturgical vestmentsPhoto: St-Takla.org
Our Pope & Patriarch

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

قداسة البابا تواضروس الثاني
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark — the 118th successor of St. Mark the Apostle

“Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness… The LORD has sworn, and will not relent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 110:3–4
1952BornNovember 4 · Mansoura
1988MonkSt. Pishoy Monastery
1997BishopJune 15 · Beheira
2012EnthronedNovember 18 · 118th Pope
A Life of Service

His Journey

مسيرة قداسة البابا
1952 · Early Years

Born in Mansoura

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was born Wagih Sobhy Baky Soliman on November 4th, 1952 in Mansoura. His father was an irrigation engineer and his family moved around during his childhood from Mansoura to Sohag and then to Damanhour.

1975 – 1985 · Education

Pharmacist and Seminarian

He received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1975 from Alexandria University and earned a fellowship for the World Health Organization from the British International Health Institute in England in 1985. He attended the Coptic Seminary and graduated in 1983. He then worked as a manager in a pharmaceutical company in Damanhour that was owned by the Ministry of Health.

1986 – 1989 · Monasticism

The Monastery of St. Pishoy

His Holiness’s life has always revolved around church since his youth; he wished to live the life of monasticism. He entered the Monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi Elnatroun on August 20, 1986 and remained a brother for two years. He was ordained a monk on July 31, 1988 and after a year he was ordained a priest on December 23, 1989.

1990 – 2012 · Service

Serving in Beheira

Two months after, H.H. Pope Tawadros started serving with H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomious of Beheira on February 15, 1990. He was ordained a bishop on June 15, 1997 by H.H. the Late Pope Shenouda III as a General Bishop assisting H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomious. His Holiness focused on childhood whether it was in the country-wide children’s festival as well when he was in charge of the children’s committee in the Holy Synod. Before assuming the papacy, H.H. wrote twelve books.

November 18, 2012 · Papacy

The 118th Pope of Alexandria

Pope Tawadros II in procession in the cathedral

His Holiness was enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Pope of the See of St. Mark on November 18, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. Reweis in Abbassiya, Cairo. The enthronement was presided by H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomious of Beheira, other metropolitans and bishops of the Coptic church and was attended by many delegates of Christian Churches.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

2 Corinthians 9:15
Pray for Our Pope

“Remember, O Lord, our honored father, Pope Abba Tawadros II. Keep him for us many years and peaceful times.”

احفظه يا رب لنا سنين كثيرة وأزمنة سالمة

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men!

" Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth. The LORD has sworn, and will not relent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

On Sunday November 18, 2012, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the 118th Successor of St. Mark the Apostle, was enthroned by the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church in a ceremony led by the beloved Metropolitan Pakhomius, the Locum Tenensof the See of St. Mark. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2Cor. 9:15)

Read More about His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on copticchurch.net

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was born Wagih Sobhy Baky Soliman on November 4th, 1952 in Mansoura. His father was an irrigation engineer and his family moved around during his childhood from Mansoura to Sohag and then to Damanhour.

He received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1975 from Alexandria University and earned a fellowship for the World Health Organization from the British International Health Institute in England in 1985. He attended the Coptic Seminary and graduated in 1983. He then worked as a manager in a pharmaceutical company in Damanhour that was owned by the Ministry of Health.

His Holiness’s life has always revolved around church since his youth; he wished to live the life of monasticism. He entered the Monastery of St. Pishoy in Wadi Elnatroun on August 20, 1986 and remained a brother for two years. He was ordained a monk on July 31, 1988 and after a year he was ordained a priest on December 23, 1989. Two months after, H.H. Pope Tawadros started serving with H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomious of Beheira on February 15, 1990. He was ordained a bishop on June 15, 1997 by H.H. the Late Pope Shenouda III as a General Bishop assisting H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomious. His Holiness focused on childhood whether it was in the country-wide children’s festival as well when he was in charge of the children’s committee in the Holy Synod. Before assuming the papacy, H.H. wrote twelve books.

His Holiness was enthroned as the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Pope of the See of St. Mark on November 18, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. Reweis in Abbassiya, Cairo. The enthronement was presided by H.E. Metropolitan Pakhomious of Beheira, other metropolitans and bishops of the Coptic church and was attended by many delegates of Christian Churches.

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