who is Pope Shenouda III

... Pope Shenouda III served as the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark. He was one of the most influential Coptic Orthodox popes of modern times, and his tenure was marked by reforms, interfaith dialogue, and social activism.

Pope Shenouda was born Nazeer Gayed Roufail on August 3, 1923, in the town of Asyut in Upper Egypt. He joined the Coptic Orthodox Church at a young age and later studied at the Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary in Cairo. He was ordained as a monk in 1954, and in 1958, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Christian Education and President of the Coptic Orthodox Sunday School Association.

In 1971, PopeShenouda was chosen as the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark. He succeeded Pope Cyril VI, who had served as pope for over a decade.

During his tenure, Pope Shenouda III worked to modernize the Coptic Orthodox Church and improve its relations with other Christian denominations and religions. He established a number of new churches and monasteries, and he also oversaw the construction of the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Mark in Cairo, which is the largest Coptic church in the world.

Pope Shenouda III was also an advocate for social justice and human rights. He spoke out against discrimination and violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt, and he worked to improve the status of Copts in Egyptian society. He also supported interfaith dialogue and worked to build bridges between the Coptic Orthodox Church and other religions.

In addition to his religious and social activities, Pope Shenouda III was also a prolific author and scholar. He wrote over 100 books on subjects ranging from theology to history to literature, and his works have been translated into numerous languages.

Pope Shenouda III served as pope for over four decades, until his death on March 17, 2012, at the age of 88. He was widely mourned by Copts in Egypt and around the world, and he was remembered as a great spiritual leader and social activist who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his people and promote peace and understanding between different religions and cultures.