Pope Benedictus XVI's resignation has
been welcomed with very positive and constructive reactions among the
Catholic Church in Egypt with its seven different rites.
The Coptic
Orthodox Church, meanwhile, has remained quite discreet after the Pope
announced his resignation.
Many people consider this decision uncommon
and without precedent in the Eastern Church traditions.
But all
expressed respect and consideration, along with a discreet abstention
from comment.
First of all, His Beatitude Cardinal Antonios Naguib,
Patriarch-Emeritus of the Coptic Catholic Church stressed upon the fact
that ''the Pope took in front of God the Almighty the proper decision at
the proper moment''. Cardinal Antonios Naguib himself, though more than
ten years younger than Pope Benedictus, resigned a couple of weeks ago
for health reasons.
The Latin Bishop for Egypt, Msgr. Adel Zaki, former head of the
Franciscan Order in Egypt, reacted saying: ''We reacted first with
amazement and surprise and many questions aroused, but we soon realized
that this man has always been distinguished by his courageous and modest
decisions as much as his clear vision and deep sense of responsibility
along with the feeling that his tasks necessitate solid spiritual and
physical energy because of the rhythm of life nowadays and the Church's
impact in the world. At the moment when everybody is struggling for
power, this going against the trend, is giving us a model we ought to
follow. This is specifically significant at the present moment in our
country Egypt, where so many parties are fighting to seize power. Christ
is only eternal and has no throne or personal glory...''
Bishop Kyrillos William of the Coptic Catholic diocese of Assiut in
Upper Egypt stated: ''The Pope revealed a huge amount of modesty and
courage and took a daring and unprecedented decision at a good moment''.
As for Bishop Youhanna Golta, Patriarcal Vicar for the Coptic
Catholics: ''The Pope is giving an example of real sanctity to the whole
Church. He is proving how deep his spirituality is and his profound
belief that the Churches' continuity is based first of all on Christ.
With great pride mixed with some sadness we tell him: your gift is huge
and up to the end you sacrificed yourself. God save you as a saint for
the Church''.
Bishop Nicolaus of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Delta diocese
asserted: ''The Church is reacting with great respect and value to this
courageous and rare decision. In our present era, any Pope resigning
from ruling any Church to preserve its impact and give a new impulse is
an eminently positive attitude. Everybody should take example from Pope
Benedict''.
Maronite Bishop Georges Chihan in Egypt stressed the ''historical
step" of the Pope and the wisdom of his mind in seeing the difficulty of
carrying out his pastoral action. This decision was certainly taken
after profound prayer, much thought and careful consideration. Let us
not forget that before being chosen as Pope, he was in charge of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Bishop Antonios Aziz from Coptic Catholic diocese of Southern Cairo
expressed his ''deep wishes of health and blessings'' asking the
Almighty to ''grant us a Shepherd as good and courageous as Pope
Benedictus''.
Father Henri Boulad, an eminent and well known Jesuit priest
presented his ''deep recognition and thanks to Pope Benedict for his
courage, his modesty, his simplicity and sense of responsibility''.
Father Rafic Greiche, official spokesman for the Catholic Church in
Egypt, and representative of the Melchite Church stressed ''the
greatness of the Church and the splendour and magnanimity of the man...
By this step, the Pope is opening the path for a renewal of the
leadership. During only eight years, he has enriched the Church with his
thought, his science and his wise management. History will remember him
as the Pope who convoked two specific Synods for the two areas of
Middle East and Africa, with all the challenges they encounter specially
after the Arab Spring movements and the precarious economic situation
on the black continent. He will also be recalled as the Pope who
constantly urged Europe to recognize its Christian roots as well as
abandon consumerism'.'