Head of the Egyptian Coptic Curch, Pope Shenouda III, announced on Wednesday he will fly to the US after Christmas celebrations for a periodic medical exam.
Physicians advised the 87-year-old, who suffers from kidney problems, to make the trip.
"I am too old and cannot have a kidney transplant," Shenouda, while speaking at his weekly sermon, told an audience member who offered to donate his kidney to the patriarch.
Shenouda said prayer was the reason for his seclusion of late. Following the 24 November clashes between hundreds of Copts and security forces over the halted construction of an Omraneya, Giza church, Shenouda went into retreat for several weeks.
Translated from the Arabic Edition .
