H.E. Msgr. Kyrillos William Samaan, born in Assiut in 1946, studied in a seminary from the age of 9. He graduated in Philosophy at the Maadi Seminary in Cairo. Between 1965 and 1969 he studied Theology at the Urbaniana Pontifical University in Rome. On June 10, 1974 he was ordained priest. Between 1978 and 1981 he completed his biblical studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. On May 16, 1990 he was appointed Bishop of Assiut. He has been Patriarchal Administrator of the Coptic Catholics since February 6, 2012.
