Pope Tawadros II
(How should we read that?
1. Pope Tawadros the second
2. Pope Tawadros second
3. Pope Tawadros two)
#1 is correct.
Pope Tawadros the second
To understand how to read the name "Pope Tawadros II," we need some background information. Pope Tawadros II is the current Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, which is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, originating from Egypt.
Now, let's break down the three options you've provided and determine the correct way to read the name:
1. Pope Tawadros the second: This interpretation suggests that "the second" refers to him being the second Pope with the name Tawadros. However, this is not accurate because "II" in Pope Tawadros II does not represent the order of succession. Instead, it denotes that he is the second Pope to hold the name Tawadros.
2. Pope Tawadros second: This reading suggests that "second" is part of his name, implying that he is the second Pope named Tawadros. However, this interpretation is not correct since "second" is not actually part of his name; instead, it represents the ordinal number "II."
3. Pope Tawadros two: This interpretation is also not accurate because "two" suggests that he is the second Pope overall, which is not the case. Furthermore, the Roman numeral "II" is commonly used to represent "the second," especially in the context of Popes.
Therefore, the correct way to read "Pope Tawadros II" is "Pope Tawadros the second," indicating that he is the second Pope to hold the name Tawadros.