St Augustine Study Hall Members on Cloud Nine

When Dominique Mamberti, the Cardinal Protodeacon, announced the name of the new pontiff from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican around 10:50 pm (IST) on Thursday, a group of priests at St. Augustine Study Hall in Aluva's Mariyapuram jumped for joy.

- ANU KURUVILLA @Kochi

They had two reasons to celebrate: One, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was one of them, a member of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA). Two, the pontiff had visited their regional house twice.

Of the eight priests at the OSA's regional house, Fr. John Bosco was especially ecstatic.

"The new pontiff had taken part in the priesthood ordination ceremony of six of us from the St. Augustine Study Hall in 2004," recalled Fr. Bosco.

"The pontiff, then the prior general of OSA, arrived at the regional house and stayed here for two weeks. During his stay, he interacted with everyone at the hall and also those who came to meet him," he told TNIE.