Congratulating 60-year-old Bishop Tawadros on his selection as the new 118th pope of Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Hindus hope that he would promote interfaith dialogue in the world.
On November four, Bishop Tawadros succeeded His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, 88, who died on March 17, when his name was drawn out from a bowl by a blindfolded boy at a ceremony in a Cairo (Egypt) Cathedral out of three candidates, thus becoming the leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. He will be enthroned on November 18.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who is visiting India from his base in USA, in a statement today, urged Bishop Tawadros to pioneer interfaith dialogue working together with various world religions and denominations on issues facing the humanity, as serious and honest interfaith dialogue was the need of the hour. This dialogue might also help us vanquish the stereotypes, prejudices, caricatures, etc., passed on to us from previous generations, Zed added.
Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out, “Religion is a complex component of human life. Dialogue helps us to see interconnections and interdependencies between religions and even similarities in doctrines. Religions should at least work together on common religious concerns like peace-making and peace-keeping, social and economic development, freedom and human rights.”
Headquartered in Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt, conservative Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, one of the oldest Christian denominations, is said to be the biggest Christian church in Egypt and the Middle East, with adherents estimated up to 18 million.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.