[1] On several occasions, Habib Elmasry, secretary of the General Congregation Council (Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am) of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, vocally disagreed with Macarius's papal appointment.

His daughter, historian Iris Habib Elmasry, documented these incidents in her book on the church's history.

[1] On 22 February 1944, Macarius issued a document describing the church's intention to repair monasteries, to update monks scientifically and spiritually, and to hold monastic heads accountable.

This led to a major split between the Holy Synod and General Congregation Council (Elmagles Elmelly Ela'am).

On 7 June 1944, the Holy Synod submitted an appeal to the pope and to the Minister of Justice on the personal status law for non-Muslims Egyptians, as they felt it contradicted a church canon and affected two of the holy mysteries of the Church: marriage and priesthood.