The Pope mourns the Sheikh

Last Wednesday, Pope Shenouda III lamented the departure of Sheikh Tantawi in a short, moving message:“I was overwhelmed by a deep grief that shook my soul when I heard the sorrowful news of the death of the grand imam of al-Azhar mosque Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi. His loss is beyond compensation. He was a man of many virtues, and I loved him deeply. He was a brother and a dear friend. We had many common views and agreed on many issues. I feel inconsolable for his loss.”