It seems that Bishop Bīshūy, Secretary of the Holy Synod and church strongman, has voluntarily decided to keep out of sight and away from the rapid developments in the Coptic arena, the latest of which is the al-‘Umrāniyyah events.

This is to avoid having to make statements, especially as he wishes to get over the crisis caused by prior statements that were interpreted as an attack on Islam.

Certain sources, however, say that he has not distanced himself from recent events, and that he was even in contact with involved parties during the al-‘Umrāniyyah church crisis.

Bishop Bīshūy also recently went to the Wādī al-Natrūn monastery when Pope Shenouda III was there. Sources say that he had several closed meetings with the pope, yet no-one knows what was discussed.