Ayman Mounier was the 6-year old child who picked the paper which picked the name of Pope Shenouda III during the altar lottery held in St.Mark's Coptic Cathedral in 31 October, 1971.
Mounier, a source of media attention in the last few days, told Ahram Arabic-language news website that his road to the altar lottery came as a result of his Church-connected family. Mounier, now 47, shared some historic photos that captured key moments in that episode in Coptic history with Ahram.
Pope Shenouda III kissing the altar child Ayman Mounier after he picked the paper with his name to become the 117 Pope in the altar lottery held in St. Mark Coptic Cathedral in Abbasyia, Cairo, on October 31, 1971
A Coptic priest in St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Abbasyia, serving chocolate to Mounier
Archbishop Antonios of Sohag holding the box of papers with the name of the three finalists of the papacy to Mounier
A deacon hands Mounier to Archbishop Antonios of Sohag, to blind his eyes before selecting a pope
Ayman Mounier kissing Pope Shenouda III in St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Abbasyia
The altar child Ayman Mounier kissing the cross in the hand of Archbishop Antonios of Sohag, who served as acting pope after death of Pope Cyril VI in March, 1971
Pope Shenouda III with the altar lottery child Ayman Mounier and little girl in St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Abbasyia
Archbishop Antonios of Sohag showing paper with the name of Bishop Shenouda of Christian Education who became Pope Shenouda III
