Cardinal Stéphanos II Ghattas, CM, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts (Egypt), died yesterday, January 20, 2009, in the Italian hospital in Cairo (Egypt)
Cardinal Ghattas, CM, was born in-Sheik Zein el-Dine, of the Eparchy of Sohag Copts (Egypt), January 16, 1920. Entered the minor seminary in Cairo in August 1929 and performed classical studies at the Jesuit College of the Holy Family "by the Jesuits. In September 1938 he was sent to the Propagation of the Faith in Rome, where he earned doctorates in philosophy and theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on March 25, 1944.
He began his ministry as a professor of dogmatic theology and philosophy at the major seminary of Tantah (Egypt). On October 2, 1952 entered the Congregation of the Mission and made his novitiate in Paris. After six years ministering in Lebanon, he was appointed treasurer and then superior of our community in Alexandria.
The Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church elected him Bishop of Luxor, Thebes of the Copts (Egypt), May 8, 1967. He received episcopal ordination on June 9 of that year. In this office, where he remained until 24 February 1984 he completed the construction of the bishopric.
On 24 February 1984 he was appointed apostolic administrator of the Patriarchy to replace, given his weak health, our confrere SB Stéphanos I Sidarous, CM, patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts. When Stéphanos I submitted his resignation, the Synod of the Coptic Church unanimously elected Ghattas Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, on June 9, 1986. John Paul II awarded him the "Ecclesiastica communio" the 23rd of that month. He then changed his name to Andraos by Stephane II, as a gesture of affection for his predecessor.
He governed the Eparchy of Alexandria of the Copts. He was President of the Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church and the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy of Egypt and in the Roman Curia, a member of the Congregation for Eastern Churches and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
In February 2000, he welcomed the Holy Father John Paul II during his Jubilee pilgrimage to Mount Sinai. John Paul II named him cardinal with 37 other cardinals and gave him the cardinal’s hat on 21 February 2001. At the solemn funeral of Pope John Paul II he was seen as a first dignitary in the liturgical celebration, and incensed the body of the Pope in a final prayer.
The Synod of Bishops of the Coptic Catholic Church, meeting in Cairo from 27 to March 30, 2006, accepted his resignation on grounds of age and health, in accordance with canon 126 of the Code of Canon 126 §2 for the Eastern Churches, after consulting the Supreme Pontiff. Since then he has lived in the residence of Priests of Saint Stephen, in Cairo. At his death yesterday, 20 January 2009 he was 89 years of age and 56 years in the Congregation of the Mission.
