Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a message to the start of mandate of the fifth Assembly of Expert, extended congratulations to the Assembly members for having won the nation’s trust and choice, noting: “The significance of this grand assembly stems from the greatness of the responsibility shouldered by its elected members and this ‘responsibility’ consists of precise and overarching protection of the Islamic and the revolutionary nature of the ruling establishment in the country and leading intertwined organs in this establishment towards its noble and exalted objectives.”
The full text of Ayatollah Khamenei’s message, which was read out at the opening ceremony marking the start of the 5th Assembly of Experts’ mandate by Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, is as follows:  

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

The coincidence of the start of mandate of the fifth Assembly of Experts with days marking the birthday of Hadhrat Valiollah al-Azam (a description of the last Shia imam), to Whom Shall We Sacrifice Our Lives, is a blessed event which augurs well and boosts and stabilizes confidence in divine endorsement and approval as well as satisfaction of His representative [on Earth] in the hearts of those who believe in the justness of divine promises. Furthermore, the coincidence [of this event] with Khordad 3 (May 23 marking the anniversary of the 1981 liberation of the Iranian city of Khorramshahr from Iraqi occupation), which is the symbol of victory of resistance and the raising of the flag of triumph and divine assistance, must be appreciated and from this stunning phenomenon lessons must be learned.   

I offer my wholehearted gratitude to esteemed and wise God who bestowed upon the pious, courageous and faithful nation the blessing of forming this Assembly and granted the establishment of the Islamic Republic honor for a renewed public allegiance. I also congratulate you, the elected members, for having won the nation’s trust and choice and I pray to savant and omnipresent God to help you render merited services to the country and people.

The significance of this grand Assembly lies in the greatness of the responsibility assigned to its elected members. In one word, this responsibility consists of precise and overarching protection of the Islamic and the revolutionary nature of the ruling establishment in the country and leading intertwined organs in this establishment towards its noble and exalted objectives. Assuming this heavy responsibility requires qualifications enshrined in the Constitution.

Deciding about the existence and survival of these qualifications falls upon this great Assembly and it will in turn require heavy responsibilities: familiarity with the status of the Islamic Republic in the current world; attention to the attractive phenomenon of religious democracy amid abundant methods of government in which spirituality and religion, or people or both have been sacrificed; attention to the unique role of faith and beliefs born out of Islamic teachings in selection of people; attention to the effect of individual and political piety of the Leader in person for preserving people’s trust as well as cleanness, strength and steadfastness of the establishment...These [points] remind and highlight some of responsibilities of this great Assembly which comprises popular and influential jurisprudents. Each of the aforementioned chapters guarantees tasks whose fulfillment will lead the country and the establishment to goodness and stability and will assist the Leader in assuming that great and unique responsibility.   

I pray to Almighty God to grant you, distinguished figures, and me, success in treading this blessed path which was trodden by the esteemed late Imam [Khomeini] and was his great and lifelong objective.

Seyyed Ali Khamenei

Khordad 1, 1395 (May 24, 2016)