The head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenuda III, has left for the United States for medical treatment, the Coptic Orthodox Lay Council which manages the church's affairs said.The 84-year-old patriarch left Cairo late on Monday on an unscheduled trip to Cleveland, Ohio, Dr Tharwat Bassily of the council told AFP, on what he said was a "routine check-up".
The independent daily Al-Masry Al-Yom, however, reported that Shenuda had left for the United States after suffering from severe kidney pain.
"His doctors in Cleveland advised him to head to the United States immediately," the paper said.
Shenuda has made several health-related trips abroad over the past two years.
He 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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