Archbishop expresses sorrow at death of His Holiness Abune Paulos
Friday 17th August 2012
Following the death of His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury made the following statement:'It is with great sorrow that we learn today of the death of His Holiness Abune Paulos, since 1992 Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He played a unique role in reviving and strengthening his church after a period of prolonged crisis and much suffering. The Ethiopian Church is now seen as a major presence in international Christianity, rising to the new challenges of modern Africa.
His Holiness provided steady and dependable leadership for his people and won great love and veneration. He served the world Church as a President of the World Council of Churches showing particular leadership in support of refugees and in inter-faith dialogue.
Our prayers are with all the faithful of the Ethiopian Church as they mourn their Father in God; and we join them in giving thanks to God for the sacrificial ministry of Abune Paulos over the years, and in the hope that his legacy in consolidating the faith of his people will be a lasting one.'