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Egypt Coptic Pope Shenouda funeral held in Cairo Egypt Coptic Pope Shenouda funeral held in Cairo
(40 minutes later)
The funeral of Coptic Pope Shenouda III is under way in the Egyptian capital.The funeral of Coptic Pope Shenouda III is under way in the Egyptian capital.
The service at St Mark's cathedral in Cairo is packed with mourners paying their respects to Shenouda, who died on Saturday aged 88. The service at St Mark's cathedral in Cairo is packed with mourners paying their respects to Pope Shenouda, who died on Saturday aged 88.
He was the spiritual leader of Egypt's Copts, who make up 10% of the country's population, and have felt increasingly marginalised in Egypt in recent years.He was the spiritual leader of Egypt's Copts, who make up 10% of the country's population, and have felt increasingly marginalised in Egypt in recent years.
After the funeral, Shenouda will be buried at St Bishoy monastery in the Nile Delta later. After the funeral, Pope Shenouda will be buried at St Bishoy monastery in the Nile Delta.
Outside St Mark's Cathedral the monastic bell tolls the parting of Pope Shenuda. A guard of honour greets the long procession of dignitaries.
The chanting of priests is broadcast to the huge crowd gathered to pay their respects echoing round this Cairo neighbourhood.
The gates of the cathedral were locked early in the day as the massive church filled up.
Many thousands of Coptic Christians stand in silence outside, some praying some weeping at the loss of a pope who led them through four turbulent decades.
Copts - the Middle East's largest Christian community - were given time off work to prepare for the funeral, and a national day of mourning has been declared.Copts - the Middle East's largest Christian community - were given time off work to prepare for the funeral, and a national day of mourning has been declared.
Global tributesGlobal tributes
Tens of thousands of people queued to see Pope Shenouda, whose body has been on display in the cathedral since his death.Tens of thousands of people queued to see Pope Shenouda, whose body has been on display in the cathedral since his death.
Dressed in embroidered vestments and a golden mitre, and holding a gold-tipped staff, his body was laid in a coffin before being placed on a ceremonial throne.Dressed in embroidered vestments and a golden mitre, and holding a gold-tipped staff, his body was laid in a coffin before being placed on a ceremonial throne.
"The holy pope was able to gain the love of even those who held different opinions and I believe this will be a difficult thing to replace," said a mourner named as Samir."The holy pope was able to gain the love of even those who held different opinions and I believe this will be a difficult thing to replace," said a mourner named as Samir.
"But God protects the Church and he will find a suitable patriarch.""But God protects the Church and he will find a suitable patriarch."
Thousands of mourners who were unable to get into the cathedral have been following the service on a huge television screen outside.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the massive crowds bear witness to the huge love and respect for Pope Shenouda.The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the massive crowds bear witness to the huge love and respect for Pope Shenouda.
He was seen as a leader who did his best to protect Coptic Christians at a time when Islamism was on the rise, our correspondent says.He was seen as a leader who did his best to protect Coptic Christians at a time when Islamism was on the rise, our correspondent says.
But his deep conservatism -including opposition to divorce - was not always popular with younger Christians.But his deep conservatism -including opposition to divorce - was not always popular with younger Christians.
The first challenge for the new leader of the Church will be to reassure Copts of their place in a country whose largest political party is now the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, our correspondent adds.
There is no timetable yet for the selection of his successor, who will be elected by a conclave of senior bishops.There is no timetable yet for the selection of his successor, who will be elected by a conclave of senior bishops.
The first challenge for the new leader will be to reassure Copts of their place in a country whose largest political party is now the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, our correspondent adds.
Tributes have come in from around the world, with Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI offering prayers and US President Barack Obama praising Pope Shenouda as an "advocate for tolerance and religious dialogue".Tributes have come in from around the world, with Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI offering prayers and US President Barack Obama praising Pope Shenouda as an "advocate for tolerance and religious dialogue".
Egypt's military rulers expressed the hope on their Facebook page that his wish of "preserving the unity of Egypt and the unity of its social fabric" would be achieved.Egypt's military rulers expressed the hope on their Facebook page that his wish of "preserving the unity of Egypt and the unity of its social fabric" would be achieved.
And a senior Muslim cleric, the Grand Imam of the prestigious al-Azhar university, Ahmed al-Tayeb, expressed sorrow and said he "greatly remembers his vision towards Jerusalem and its history".And a senior Muslim cleric, the Grand Imam of the prestigious al-Azhar university, Ahmed al-Tayeb, expressed sorrow and said he "greatly remembers his vision towards Jerusalem and its history".