Pope Tawadros II cried as he assumed the leadership of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church today 18/11/2012 at the St. Mark Cathedral in Abbasiya in Cairo.

The new pope will lead the church, which claims more than 10 million congregants, succeeding late pope Shenouda III who passed away last March after leading the church for four decades.

Pope Tawadros was chosen from among three religious leaders in an altar lottery on 4 Novemebr to head the church.

Hundreds of Egyptian Christians and tens of state officials and international dignitaries packed the Cathedral to mark the historic event.

Pope Tawadros II assumes leadership of Egypt's Coptic Church

Pope Tawadros II cried as he assumed the leadership of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church today 18/11/2012 at the St. Mark Cathedral in Abbasiya in Cairo.

The new pope will lead the church, which claims more than 10 million congregants, succeeding late pope Shenouda III who passed away last March after leading the church for four decades.

Pope Tawadros was chosen from among three religious leaders in an altar lottery on 4 Novemebr to head the church.

Hundreds of Egyptian Christians and tens of state officials and international dignitaries packed the Cathedral to mark the historic event.