NUNTIA – APRIL 2006
30. Holy See
Msgr. Ghattas resigns. The Holy See announced that the Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church, gathered in Cairo (Egypt) from 27-30 March, accepted the resignation of our confrere, His Beatitude Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, 86 years of age, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts since 1986. To succeed him, the Synod elected, on 30 March, Msgr. Antonio Naguib, 71 years of age, who is originally from Minya (Middle Egypt). Msgr. Ghattas was born in Cheikh-Zein-Eddin near Tahta on 16 January 1920. He entered the Minor Seminary of Egypt in August 1929. He did his secondary studies in the Holy Family School of the Jesuits, finishing them in 1938. In September of that year, he was sent to Rome to the “Propaganda Fide” School. In 1944, he obtained a degree in Philosophy and Theology and was ordained a priest on 25 March of the same year. Upon returning to Egypt, he was named Professor of Philosophy and Dogmatic Theology at the Major Seminary of Tahta, afterwards Tanta. In 1952, he entered the Congregation of the Mission. He made his Internal Seminary in Paris. After six years of apostolate in Lebanon, he was named treasurer and superior of the Vincentians in Alexandria. In 1967, the Coptic Catholic Synod elected Fr. Andraos Ghattas, Bishop of Thebes-Luxor and he settled in the Cathedral of Tahta on 16 June of the same year. In 1984, after having completed the constructions of the bishopric of Luxor, His Excellency Msgr. Andraos Ghattas was named, on 24 February, Apostolic Administrator of the Patriarchy, to replace His Beatitude Stéphanos I Sidarous, C.M., elderly and infirm. The latter offered his resignation to the Catholic Coptic Synod, gathered in the patriarchal residence of Pont-de-Koubbeh. On 9 June 1986, His Excellency, Msgr. Andraos Ghattas was unanimously elected Patriarch of Alexandria. He took the name of Stephanos II, out of devotion to and affection for his illustrious predecessor, and to indicate continuity.