Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church

Egyptian Christians attempt to break through a cloth barrier to follow and view the body of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, during his funeral in the Abassiya Cathedral in Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

The body of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, rests inside an open casket during his funeral service at the Abassiya Cathedral inCairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Egyptian security forces and Coptic clergy are seen in force as a hearse carries away Pope Shenouda III's casket after his funeral mass at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tens of thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians are taking part in a funeral mass led by senior clerics for the death of their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, at the main cathedral in Cairo. Shenouda died on Saturday at age 88 after spending 40 years at the helm of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The banner in Arabic reads, "Egyptian Freedom party are upset for the loss of beloved Pope Shenouda III."

Egyptian Christians carry a man who fell unconscious as mourners crowed the funeral of the late Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who ledEgypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, at Mar Morqos, or St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

Egyptian Copts hold posters of Pope Shenouda III during his funeral at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral inCairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tens of thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians are taking part in a funeral mass led by senior clerics for the death of their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, at the main cathedral in Cairo. Shenouda died on Saturday at age 88 after spending 40 years at the helm of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Egyptian presidential hopeful Amr Moussa, center, attends the funeral mass for Pope Shenouda III at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tens of thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians are taking part in a funeral mass led by senior clerics for the death of their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, at the main cathedral in Cairo. Shenouda died on Saturday at age 88 after spending 40 years at the helm of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Egyptian senior clerics gather to pay their final respects during the funeral for Pope Shenouda III at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tens of thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians are taking part in a funeral mass led by senior clerics for the death of their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, at the main cathedral in Cairo. Shenouda died on Saturday at age 88 after spending 40 years at the helm of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Egyptian Christians watch the funeral of late Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, on a screen at Mar Morqos, or St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tearful and wearing mourning black, tens of thousands of Egyptian Coptic Christians joined Tuesday a funeral mass for their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, led by senior clerics at the main cathedral in Cairo.

Egyptian senior clerics carry the casket of Pope Shenouda III during his funeral at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tens of thousands of Egypt's Coptic Christians are taking part in a funeral mass led by senior clerics for the death of their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, at the main cathedral in Cairo. Shenouda died on Saturday at age 88 after spending 40 years at the helm of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

An Egyptian Christian woman embraces a poster of late Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, during his funeral at Mar Morqos, or St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

An Egyptian Christian woman carries a poster of the late Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, as others line up to enter his funeral at Mar Morqos, or St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

Egyptian Christians hold a poster of late Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who ledEgypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, during his funeral at Mar Morqos, or St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church inCairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tearful and wearing mourning black, tens of thousands of Egyptian Coptic Christians joined Tuesday a funeral mass for their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, led by senior clerics at the main cathedral in Cairo.

Egyptian Christians mourn at the funeral of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, outside the Abassiya Cathedral in Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Thousands of Egyptian Christians stand watch on a giant screen the funeral of late Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, at Mar Morqos, or St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

A child holds up a poster of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, outside the Abassiya Cathedral in Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Egyptian Christians mourn at the funeral of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, outside the Abassiya Cathedral in Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Egyptian senior clerics attend the funeral of Pope Shenouda III at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo,Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tearful and wearing mourning black, tens of thousands of Egyptian Coptic Christians joined Tuesday a funeral mass for their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, led by senior clerics at the main cathedral in Cairo.

An Egyptian Christian mourns at the funeral of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, outside the Abassiya Cathedral in Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Egyptian Christians greet the coffin of late Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, at Mar Morqos, or St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Tearful and wearing mourning black, tens of thousands of Egyptian Coptic Christians joined Tuesday a funeral mass for their patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, led by senior clerics at the main cathedral in Cairo.

Egyptian Christians prepare a flower cross at the funeral of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, outside the Abassiya Cathedral in Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Police military guard the area as Egyptian Christians and Coptic priests pay respects and view the Wadi Al-Natrun monastery where Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, will be buried, in the desert northwest of Cairo March 20, 2012. Shenouda died on March 17 at the age of 88, and Coptic clergymen from around the world started to arrive in Cairo to attend the funeral at the Abassiya Cathedral.

Egyptian Christian priests stand next to the coffin of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church at the funeral, in the Abassiya Cathedral in CairoMarch 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Egyptian Coptic priests stand in line to pay respects and view the Wadi Al-Natrun monastery where Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, will be buried, in the desert northwest of Cairo March 20, 2012. Shenouda died on March 17 at the age of 88, and Coptic clergymen from around the world started to arrive in Cairo to attend the funeral at the Abassiya Cathedral.

Egyptian soldiers carry the coffin of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, during his funeral in the Abassiya Cathedral in Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Coptic clergymen carry the coffin of Pope Shenouda III as his body arrives for burial at the Saint Bishoy monastery in Wadi Natroun, northwest of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Pope Shenouda III, an iconic figure for 40 years at the helm of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, was laid to rest Tuesday in a desert monastery after a moving funeral Mass at a Cairo cathedral attended by tens of thousands. Shenouda's death brought an outpouring of expressions of Muslim-Christian unity, but it has done little to hide the alarm of Egypt's 10 million Christians and liberal Muslims over the political ascent of Islamists.

Mourners surround the coffin of Pope Shenouda III as his body arrives for interment at the Saint Bishoy monastery in Wadi Natroun, northwest of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Pope Shenouda III, an iconic figure for 40 years at the helm of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, was laid to rest Tuesday in a desert monastery after a moving funeral Mass at a Cairo cathedral attended by tens of thousands. Shenouda's death brought an outpouring of expressions of Muslim-Christian unity, but it has done little to hide the alarm of Egypt's 10 million Christians and liberal Muslims over the political ascent of Islamists.

Genral view of St Bishoy Monastery in Wadi al-Natrun where the body of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, will be buried, 100km (62 miles) north of Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

Military police and mourners surround the ambulance carrying the coffin of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, upon its arrival for burial at St Bishoy Monastery in Wadi al-Natrun, 100km (62 miles) north of Cairo March 20, 2012. Thousands of mourners dressed in black gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for the funeral of Egypt's Orthodox Christian Pope Shenouda, who spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam.

A woman kisses the tomb of Pope Shenouda III after his interment at the Saint Bishoy monastery in Wadi Natroun, northwest of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Pope Shenouda III, an iconic figure for 40 years at the helm of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, was laid to rest Tuesday in a desert monastery after a moving funeral Mass at a Cairo cathedral attended by tens of thousands. Shenouda's death brought an outpouring of expressions of Muslim-Christian unity, but it has done little to hide the alarm of Egypt's 10 million Christians and liberal Muslims over the political ascent of Islamists.