Egyptian church leader ill in Cleveland

He made several trips to
the U.S. last year for back surgery.

COLUMBUS (AP) — The leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt was hospitalized Tuesday at the Cleveland Clinic, where he had previously undergone surgery, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The clinic didn’t plan to release any additional information about Pope Shenouda III, 84, said clinic spokeswoman Heather Phillips.

Pope Shenouda was scheduled to consecrate St. Mary’s Coptic Church Tuesday in Columbus, said Mary Sedarous, daughter of the Rev. Sedarous A. Sedarous, the church’s pastor. She said he was taken to the hospital Monday night.

The cleric suffers from chronic cholecystitis, or stones in his gall bladder that cause a high fever and severe pain, and was hospitalized in November in Cairo.

He had spinal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in October 2006 and is known to have back problems. He made several trips to the U.S. last year for back surgery.

Mary Sedarous said her father studied with the pope years ago in Cairo.

Egyptian religious leaders from across the nation and Canada had journeyed to Ohio for the consecration, she said.

The Coptic Church is the native Christian church of Egypt, and has a doctrine similar to Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches.

Pope Shenouda has led the church since 1971. Copts are believed to be 10 percent of Egypt’s 77 million population, making up the largest Christian community in the Middle East.

The ailing leader has continued to deliver his regular weekly sermons, including the Coptic Christmas service Jan. 7.

Under his leadership, the church has established congregations in the United States, South America, New Zealand and Australia. It has more than 100 North American congregations, up from four in 1971.