In Coptic usage, Pope is a title of fatherhood for the patriarch of Alexandria, the successor of St. Mark in the Church of Alexandria. The title belongs to Coptic apostolic succession, patriarchal care, and synodal life.
The Coptic title Pope
The Coptic Church uses Pope and Patriarch together for the same Alexandrian office. Pope here means father, and Patriarch means the chief father or head of a patriarchal church. The full title points to the See of St. Mark and to the Coptic Orthodox Church’s historic continuity in Alexandria.
The word itself can confuse readers because English-speaking people often hear Pope and immediately think of Rome. The Coptic answer begins with Alexandria: St. Mark, the line of patriarchs, the Holy Synod, and the pastoral fatherhood of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Authority in the Coptic Orthodox Church
The biblical root is the Church’s need for overseers who shepherd the flock. The Coptic Church understands the Pope of Alexandria within this episcopal and patriarchal order. He presides as patriarchal father, while the bishops of the Holy Synod share responsibility for guarding the apostolic faith.
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
The Pope of Alexandria teaches, shepherds, ordains with the bishops, presides over major matters, and represents the Coptic Orthodox Church publicly. His authority is received as service to Christ’s Body and exercised within the Church’s received faith.
Why the shared word causes confusion
The shared word Pope creates a vocabulary overlap, while the offices remain distinct. The Coptic Pope belongs to the Oriental Orthodox Church of Alexandria. The Roman Catholic Pope belongs to the Roman Catholic Church and the See of Rome.
In parish life, most guidance comes through the local priest and bishop. The Pope’s role remains patriarchal and synodal. He is a father to the Church of Alexandria and the chief hierarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
A clear answer helps conversations stay honest: Copts have a Pope, and the title means Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria. Learning that title on its own terms keeps the answer faithful to Coptic Orthodox order rather than reducing it to a comparison with Rome.