"Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth. The LORD has sworn, and will not relent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was born Wagih Sobhy Baky Soliman on November 4, 1952 in Mansoura. His father was an irrigation engineer and his family moved around during his childhood from Mansoura to Sohag and then to Damanhour.
He received his bachelor's degree in pharmacy in 1975 from Alexandria University and earned a fellowship for the World Health Organization from the British International Health Institute in England. He worked for a pharmaceutical company until 1986, and served in the Egyptian Air Defense Force. He also worked with the World Health Organization as part of his fellowship and served in church pastoral services.
Then in 1986, he decided to enter the monastery and was assigned to the Monastery of Saint Pishoy. In 1989, he was ordained a priest by the late Pope Shenouda III, and on June 15, 1997 was consecrated General Bishop of Beheira in Lower Egypt. Bishop Tawadros was elected 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark on November 4, 2012.
His Holiness has focused on youth ministry and education throughout his service to the Church, and continues to lead the Coptic Orthodox Church with wisdom and grace.
