On the occasion of the inauguration of the pontificate of Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV and Fr. Ngoa Ya Tshihemba, Superior General of the Augustinians of the Assumption
Most Holy Father,
In my personal name and in the name of the entire Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption, known as Assumptionists, it gives me great pleasure to offer you our warmest congratulations on your election to the See of Peter. It gives us great joy and hope to have received you as our new Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the universal Church!
Just a few days before the inauguration of your pontificate, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having accepted this office, so heavy but so essential to the Church’s mission. And we wish to assure you of the prayers of all our brothers and communities for your ministry, as well as of our availability to support your ministry with the charism and apostolates proper to our Congregation.
Do we need to mention the special joy that comes with belonging to the great Augustinian family? We are extremely grateful to you for having, from your very first words as Pope, emphasized the living heritage of Saint Augustine. Seeing one of his spiritual sons take his place in the See of Peter encourages us to root ourselves even more deeply in his spirituality, and to extend it among the People of God. I hope that your election will strengthen the ties within our common religious family, since, as you know, the Augustinians of the Assumption are members of the Order of Saint Augustine.
From Latin America, so dear to your heart and where I am currently on a long canonical visit, I wish to assure you, Most Holy Father, of the fidelity and filial devotion of our entire religious family.
Rev. NGOA Ya Tshihemba
Superior General
