The
General Congregation Council (Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am) elected him Pope, with seat in the
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Azbakeya in
Cairo throughout his papacy. The secretary of the council was
Boutros pasha Ghali بطرس غالي, later Prime Minister of Egypt. Cyril spent most of his papacy at loggerheads with the council and objecting to its interference in church matters. At the beginning of his papacy there was a dispute with the council, which Cyril won. In general, his papacy was an era of regeneration for the Coptic Orthodox Church and he continued the work begun by Pope
Cyril IV (1854–1861) in educational reform. When news of his death reached Ethiopia, Empress
Zewditu and
Ras Tafari ordered requiem masses to be said throughout Ethiopia, and that government offices be closed for three days. ==See also==