Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III ordered to empty and hand the building of an orthodox church in Rosetta to Counselor Mohamed Mustafa Tiranli (Cairo Criminal Court) to implement a ruling handed down by Rosetta Court by more or less a year. Church lawyer Reda Nasif said the Pope had taken this decision after consulting his advisors on this issue. A source at the Pope’s office said the decision was fair. “The Pope took this decision the day before yesterday after a brief meeting with his legal advisor”. He ascribed this move to Counselor Mohamed’s request of LE 4 million in exchange for the land on which the church stands. However, the source said there is another Coptic church in Rosetta, adding that there are not as many Copts there as to justify the presence of two churches. The church priest, Father Luke, said he had received no information. “The case is still being considered by the court and we’re waiting for the ruling” he said. “Beheira Archbishop Bakhomios is currently in Libya. When he comes back next month, things will be clearer.” Counselor Mohamed Mustafa said he appreciated the Pope’s attitude and his keenness to respect Muslims’ rights. He said he would try to hold a friendly meeting to solve all judicial disputes between him and the Church after he had received the building empty the day before yesterday. The Coptic Church had taken hold of that Orthodox Church in Rosetta claiming the two confessions’ leaders had struck an agreement to carry out the rituals in the churches left by the Byzantines in Egypt.
