The funeral of Pope Shenouda III - in pictures

Egyptian Christians mourn during the funeral of Pope Shenouda III Photograph: Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

Thousands of mourners gather in Cairo for the funeral Photograph: Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

The body of Shenouda is seen inside an open casket during the funeral service Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

Christian priests stand next to the coffin. Several bishops are to escort Shenouda's body by military plane to St Bishoy monastery in the north of the country for the burial Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

Pope Shenouda III was the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, the Middle East's largest Christian minority Photograph: Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

Christian Coptic priests officiate during the funeral Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images

Pallbearers carry the coffin out of St Mark's cathedral in Cairo's al-Abbassiya district Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images

An Egyptian Coptic Christian holds a portrait of Shenouda who died at the weekend at the age of 88 Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images

Mourners gather at St Mark's cathedral Photograph: Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

An Egyptian Christian reacts during the funeral. Pope Shenouda spent his final years trying to comfort a community disturbed by the rise of political Islam Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Egyptian presidential hopeful Abdelmoneim Abu al-Fatuh (centre) attends the funeral Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

Egyptian soldiers carry the coffin from the cathedral in Cairo Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

An Egyptian woman reacts during the funeral. Tens of thousands wearing mourning black attended the funeral mass for their patriarch Photograph: Mohammed Asad/AP