Pope Tawadros II, the leader of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, visited Rhode Island on the fourth day of his nearly monthlong pastoral visit to the northeastern United States. Pope Tawadros II, the 118th Coptic pope who is the successor to St. Mark the Apostle, celebrated a Sunday liturgy on Sept. 16 at St. Mary and St. Mena Coptic Church in Cranston. The Coptic pope also baptized several infants during the service, and was awarded the key to the city by Cranston Mayor Allan Fung. Pope Tawadros II arrived in the United States on Sept. 13. He will be visiting several Coptic communities in the Northeast until Oct. 11. In addition to Rhode Island, he has thus far visited Coptic churches in New York City and upstate New York.
