H.H. Pope Tawadros confirmed that the suspects in the martyrdom of the three monks in our Coptic monastery of Saint Mark the Apostle and Saint Samuel the Confessor in South Africa last week are still under investigation and matters are not yet clear.

This came before His Holiness’ sermon in his weekly Wednesday meeting, which was held this evening in St. Anthony’s Church at the Papal Residence in Cairo, without the attendance of the public.

Regarding the incident, His Holiness said: “We thank God for every condition regarding the departure of the three monastic fathers. Prayers were held for them in the Archdiocese of South Africa in the presence of the delegation that we assigned to travel there. They were His Grace Bishop Boules (General Bishop of Evangelism in Africa), His Grace Bishop Joseph (Bishop of the Diocese of Namibia and its affiliated regions), and Father Elisha Rezk (who is a priest currently serving in America, prior to which served for a long time in South Africa). They prayed the funeral prayers with the Metropolitan of South Africa; His Eminence Metropolitan Antonious-Markos, who has been suffering from health problems for two years. We ask for his good health.”

His Holiness added: “Prayers were also held over them here in the cathedral, and in the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor, where they were buried, as a monk must be buried in the monastery.”

Pope Tawadros thanked everyone who contributed to the healing of the wounds, beginning with the delegation of fathers who traveled to South Africa, noting that they were there at a difficult time.

His Holiness also thanked the South African authorities, who dealt with the incident very seriously, pointing out that the investigations were temporarily halted until an interpreter was brought. He highlighted that the two detainees in this incident are still under suspicion, and suspicion does not mean conviction, but rather under investigation.

He added: “The South African ambassador visited us today and offered his condolences on behalf of the South African government, for which we thanked him. This was an opportunity for us to get to know him and for him to learn about the Coptic Church and its history. We pray for God to complete His work in this issue.”

He concluded: “We ask for the prayers of the three monastic fathers, and for God to protect our monasteries and fathers.”

His Holiness is scheduled to deliver his Wednesday sermons from St Anthony’s Church in the Papal Residence in Cairo throughout the period of the Holy Lent, without any attendance from the public.

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