Coptic Catholic Church Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Coptic Catholic Church
Cathedral of Our Lady of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
Classification	Eastern Catholic
Polity	Episcopal
Structure	Patriarchate
Pope	Francis
Patriarch	Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak
Associations	Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Region	Egypt, with communities in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America
Headquarters	Cathedral of Our Lady of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
Congregations	166 (2016)
Members	187,320 (2017)
Ministers	243
Official website	coptcatholic.net

The Coptic Catholic Church is a special Christian church. It is part of the larger Catholic Church but has its own unique traditions. This church uses the Coptic Rite and the Coptic language in its worship. The Coptic language comes from Ancient Egyptian.

The main leader of the Coptic Catholic Church is called the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria. His name is Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak. He became the Patriarch in 2013. The main offices for the Patriarch are in Cairo, Egypt. The most important church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Egypt, is also in Cairo.

History of the Coptic Catholic Church
How the Church is Organized
Religious Groups
Education and Health Services
Relations with Other Churches
See also

History of the Coptic Catholic Church

Early Attempts at Reunion

Since the 400s, the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been separate. Over many centuries, the Catholic Church tried to reunite with the Coptic Christians in Egypt.

One big attempt happened in 1442 during the Council of Florence. Some Coptic leaders agreed to join with the Pope in Rome. But most Coptic people did not like this idea. So, the reunion did not happen. More attempts were made in 1560 and 1582, but they also failed.

Missionaries Arrive

In the 1600s, Pope Urban VIII sent Catholic missionaries to Egypt. Many of these missionaries were Franciscan friars. In 1630, some Capuchin Order missions were started, including one in Cairo.

At first, relations between Catholics and Copts were difficult. A Capuchin priest named Agathangelo of Vendome helped ease tensions in 1633. However, he was later killed in Ethiopia in 1638. After this, the mission in Cairo became less active. Later, Jesuit priests arrived in 1675.

In 1741, a Coptic bishop named Anba Athanasius of Jerusalem became Catholic. In 1781, Pope Benedict XIV made him a special leader for the small group of Egyptian Coptic Catholics. There were fewer than 2,000 of them at that time. Anba Athanasius later returned to the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The Patriarchate is Restored

In 1824, the Pope created the title of Patriarch of Alexandria for the Coptic Catholics. However, it was mostly a title without much power. In 1829, the Ottoman rulers allowed Coptic Catholics to build their own churches.

The number of Coptic Catholics grew. Because of this, Pope Leo XIII officially brought back the Catholic Patriarchate in 1895. He first appointed Bishop Cyril Makarios as a temporary leader. Makarios then held a meeting that led to some Latin Catholic practices being used. In 1899, Pope Leo made Makarios the Patriarch, and he took the name Cyril II. He later resigned in 1908. The position of Patriarch was empty until 1947.

How the Church is Organized

The Coptic Catholic Church is organized in Egypt. The Patriarch is the main leader. He is also the only Metropolitan Archbishop. While his old title is from Alexandria, his actual home is in Cairo.

The Coptic Catholic Church has eight other bishops across Egypt. These bishops lead different areas called eparchies. These areas include Abu Qurqas, Alexandria, Assiut, Giza, Ismailia, Luxor, Minya, and Sohag.

A map of the areas where the Coptic Catholic Church has leaders.

Religious Groups

The Coptic Catholic Church does not have traditional monasteries. Instead, it has different religious congregations. These are groups of people who live and work together for the church.

There are three main groups for women: the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Coptic Sisters of Jesus and Mary, and the Egyptian branch of the Little Sisters of Jesus. There are also groups for men, including Franciscans and Jesuits.

Education and Health Services

Most people who want to become priests for the Coptic Catholic Church study at St. Leo's Patriarchal Seminary [ar]. This seminary is in a suburb of Cairo.

The church runs many primary schools in its parishes. Some also have secondary schools. The Coptic Catholic Church also helps people with their health. It has a hospital, several medical clinics, and places for children who do not have parents (orphanages).

Relations with Other Churches

The Coptic Catholic Church generally has very good relations with the larger Coptic Orthodox Church. They work together on many things.

Coptic Catholic Church facts for kids

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