Pastoral care for congregants who have travelled abroad

A Priest does not have the right to travel to another country to offer pastoral care to the members of his congregation that have travelled [settled] there. It is the Bishop of the Diocese who is responsible for the pastoral care of those who have travelled or relocated. Therefore, the Diocesans Affairs Committee recommended that external travels of Priests and Monks is permitted only with the agreement and permission from His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. This applies to all Priests in Egypt. It is noted that the Metropolitans and Bishops travel [only] after receiving permission of His Holiness the Pope.