Announcement of Papal Selection dates
The Holy Synod and Nominations Committee of the Coptic Orthodox Church have announced that the new pope to succeed His Holiness the late Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Holy See of St. Mark, will be chosen on Sunday 2nd December 2012.
The Papal Selection Timeline:
| 15-30 September | Period for challenges to nominations by registered voters |
| 1-3 October | Church-wide fast preceding shortlisting of candidates |
| 3 October | Nominations committee shortlists candidates to between five and seven for papal election |
| 19-21 November | Church-wide fast before Papal election |
| 24 November | Papal election |
| 26-29 November | Church-wide fast preceding Altar Ballot |
| 2 December | Divine Liturgy at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Cairo with Altar Ballot and the selection of the 118th Pope |
