Pope Shenouda III​

Pope Shenouda III (1923–2012) was the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, serving from 14 November 1971 until his passing. A conservative yet respected leader, he was known for his commitment to Christian education, ecumenism, and church expansion. He became a monk in 1954 under the name Father Antonios and was later consecrated as a bishop by Pope Cyril VI in 1962. Following Pope Cyril VI’s death, he was enthroned as Pope in 1971. Under his leadership, the Coptic Orthodox Church expanded globally, with new dioceses in North America, Europe, Australia, and South America. Within Egypt, he worked tirelessly for the church and his people. He was a strong advocate for interfaith dialogue and Christian unity, focusing on peace, forgiveness, and understanding. Revered as a great teacher, he was honored with the title "Teacher of Generations" for making theology accessible to all.