Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Antonios Naguib, Patriarch Emeritus of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts, confirms to Fides Agency his participation in the Conclave, so far uncertain for health reasons. Hemorrhagic cerebral ischemia had struck him on December 31, 2011, forcing him until the middle of last January to resign from his patriarchal office. But now his health condition is showing signs of recovery and it is possible for him to come to Rome.
Cardinal Naguib refers to Fides Agency: "I am delighted to be able to take part in this important moment in the life of the Church. It was something that I did not dream of anymore. In the beginning I said that it was not possible for me to go to the Eternal City for the Conclave. But then I reflected on the fact that the first duty of a cardinal is to participate in the choice of the Successor of Peter. And I changed my initial decision."
The Egyptian Cardinal will leave Cairo only when the starting date of the General Congregations of the Sacred College and the Conclave will be communicated. Once in Rome, in the days of the Congregations of cardinals, a helper will take care of the transfers authorized by the Egyptian Cardinal from the residence of Santa Marta to the entrance of the hall of the new Synod.
The 77-year-old Antonios Naguib, who was elected Patriarch of the Coptic Catholics in the spring of 2006, was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in November 2010. Besides him, three other leaders of the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite will take part in the conclave: the Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites Bechara Boutros Rai, the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar George Alencherry and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 01/03/2013)
