Bishop of Gamboma
Urbain Ngassongo was born on October 15, 1961, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. After completing his primary and secondary education, he pursued university studies in engineering from 1984 to 1991, obtaining his degree in Brazzaville. He entered the seminary in 1991 and—due to the war—was sent to Rome by his bishop, where he resided at the Pontifical French Seminary. He earned a doctorate in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained a priest on July 20, 1996, at the parish of Saint John the Baptist in Brazzaville. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: teacher and spiritual director at the Major Seminary in Brazzaville (1996–1997); while the war was ongoing in his home country, he carried out pastoral duties in Italy, in the Archdiocese of Potenza (1997–1998); spiritual director at the Major Seminary in Brazzaville, while simultaneously gaining pastoral experience at the parish of Santa Maria de Ouenzé in Owando (1998–2000); parochial vicar at the parish of Saints Joachim and Anne in Potenza, Italy (2000–2006); and parish administrator of the Balvano parish in the Archdiocese of Potenza (since 2007). Since 2012, he has served as Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of the Congo.