The Coptic papal elections

✚ The Coptic papal elections

I didn't blog about Monday's election of the next patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, so here's a few links:

• Coptic papal elections suggest depoliticized church | Egypt Independent
• MEI Editor's Blog: Coptic Papal Candidates Down to Three

One of the interesting consequences of this election is the direction the church might take on issues of wider public interest — such as Egypt's new constitution. I don't expect a change of tack, but having an official pope elected and able to guide his flock will make a difference if, as expected, the debate over the constitution gets rougher.