Who is the Alexandrian Pope?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

The title of "Pope" (from the - papas, meaning "father") was first used by the Church of Alexandria. Historically, it was applied to the Bishop of Alexandria long before it was used by the Bishop of Rome. For example, the title was used for Pope Heraclas, the 13th Pope of Alexandria (232–248 AD), and later by St. Athanasius the Apostolic.

When discussing the "Alexandrian Pope," there are two ways to answer this: the current occupant of the See and the historical nature of the office.

1. The Current Pope

The current Alexandrian Pope is His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. He is the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. He was enthroned on November 18, 2012, succeeding the late Pope Shenouda III.

As the Successor of St. Mark the Evangelist, he is the supreme head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is the true Orthodox Church of Egypt. His full title is: Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in all Africa and the Near East.

2. The Historical Role

The Pope of Alexandria has always held a position of great prominence in the Christian world. Historically, the See of Alexandria was the center of theological scholarship (the Catechetical School of Alexandria) and the birthplace of Christian Monasticism.

• Defender of Orthodoxy: Alexandrian Popes like St. Athanasius and St. Cyril were the primary defenders of the faith against heretics. St. Athanasius stood "against the world" to defeat the Arian heresy, and St. Cyril defended the title of Theotokos* - Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus.
• The Schism of Chalcedon: It is important to distinguish between the Coptic Orthodox Pope and the "Melkite" (Greek Orthodox) Patriarch. After the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, a division occurred. The Coptic Orthodox Church remained faithful to the Miaphysite Christology of St. Cyril, while the Melkites (those who followed the Byzantine Emperor) appointed their own patriarch. We recognize the Coptic Pope as the legitimate successor to St. Mark.
• The Judge of the Universe: Because of Alexandria's role in determining the date of Easter for the entire Christian world in the early centuries, the Pope of Alexandria was historically given the title "Judge of the Universe."

3. List of Prominent Alexandrian Popes

Some of the most significant Popes in history include:

• St. Mark the Evangelist: The founder of the See and its first Patriarch.
• St. Athanasius the Apostolic (20th Pope): The Pillar of Faith who defended the divinity of Christ.
• St. Cyril of Alexandria (24th Pope): Known as the "Seal of all the Fathers" for his defense of the unity of Christ’s nature.
• St. Dioscorus (25th Pope): Who suffered persecution and exile to defend the Orthodox faith against the errors of the Council of Chalcedon.

In the Coptic Orthodox faith, the Pope is seen as a "Father of Fathers," a shepherd who preserves the Apostolic tradition and guides the Church in the truth.