Maltese Priest Who Lived With Pope Leo XIV Shares Incredible Relationship

May 9 2025

Maltese Augustinian Prior Rafael Abdilla has opened up exclusively to MaltaDaily about his long-standing and personal connection with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost.

Abdilla first met the future pontiff during various Augustinian council meetings held in South America. At the time, Prevost was based in Peru, while Abdilla was serving in Brazil, where he spent two decades on missionary work. It was during these meetings that the two priests began to form a bond as they gathered with other Augustinian leaders.

However, their relationship deepened significantly during Abdilla’s ten-year mission in Algeria. Abdilla revealed that for two and a half years, he was confined to the Augustinian convent by Algerian authorities.

During this difficult period, Prevost—then Prior General of the Augustinian Order—personally visited and lived with Abdilla for several days. The pair shared meals, prayed, and spent time together, forming a lasting friendship.

Prevost also supported Abdilla during his difficult time in Algeria by helping arrange visits from his brother Manwel and other family members, including his mother.

Their bond became so strong that Abdilla later invited Prevost to celebrate Mass in Żurrieq for his 25th anniversary of ordination—a request Prevost gladly accepted. Abdilla also confirmed that he would frequently meet Prevost during visits to Rome.

He added that Pope Leo XIV had visited Malta several times, most recently in 2023 when he led a bishops’ meeting and celebrated Mass at the iconic Mosta Dome. During his time as Prior General, he made it a point to visit Malta every four years to attend the Augustinian General Meeting held locally.

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Museums By Candlelight On Saturday, 10th May 2025

May 9 2025

A sword of honour, personally bestowed by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800, will be a key feature of this year’s Museums by Candlelight, providing the public with a unique opportunity to view an artefact closely linked to Malta’s maritime heritage.

The sword was awarded to French Rear Admiral Denis Decrès for his role during the French Blockade, and has recently been acquired by Heritage Malta.

For the first time, it will be exhibited at the Malta Maritime Museum, where it will take pride of place as part of the An Island at the Crossroads exhibition. This extensive display delves into Malta’s central role in Mediterranean trade and conflict, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the island’s rich maritime history.

In addition to the Decrès sword, the exhibition will feature an immersive experience highlighting Malta’s Drydocks, giving guests an exclusive glimpse into the island’s seafaring legacy. Heritage Malta curators will be available on-site to provide detailed insights and engage with visitors. Please note, the museum will be closing for restoration works on 31st May, so this represents one of the final chances to explore its current exhibits.

The exhibitions will be hosted across three iconic sites in Birgu: the Malta Maritime Museum, the Inquisitor’s Palace, and Fort St Angelo. All three venues will be open for Museums by Candlelight on Saturday, 10th May 2025, from 7:00 PM until midnight, offering a memorable experience with live music, candlelit atmospheres, and special exhibitions.

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85,000 Passengers Came To Malta By Cruise In The First Quarter Of 2025

May 9 2025

According to the latest data from the National Statistics Office (NSO), total cruise passenger traffic between January and March reached 84,597, marking an 8,035-passenger increase over the same period in 2024.

The majority of these passengers, 83,095 were transit visitors, continuing Malta’s trend as a popular stopover destination in the Mediterranean. However, landed passengers, or those who started or ended their cruise in Malta, dropped sharply from 3,190 to 1,502, a decline of 1,688 passengers.

EU countries contributed 56.6% of passengers, with Italy being the largest source market at 21.9%, followed by Spain at 8.9%. Non-EU countries made up 43.4% of the total, with 36,725 passengers, primarily from the United States (25.8%) and the United Kingdom (18.3%).

Demographically, 52% of passengers were male, with the 40-59 age group accounting for the largest share at 30.6%, followed closely by those aged 60-79 years at 28.6%.

Notably, The number of cruise liner calls also jumped from 19 in early 2024 to 31 in the same period this year.

Have you travelled by cruise this year?

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Third European Cathedrals Conference Highlights Sacred Art Conservation as a Tool for Re-Evangelization

May 9 2025

On Thursday 8th and Friday 9th May 2025, The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation hosted the third edition of the European Cathedrals Conference in Valletta, Malta. Themed “Sacred Art Conservation as a Vehicle of Re-Evangelization”, this year’s conference highlighted the crucial role of sacred art and architecture conservation in preserving and revitalising the spiritual, theological, and cultural messages they carry.

The conference organised in collaboration with the Opera della Primaziale Pisana of Pisa, Italy, studied how the safeguarding of religious heritage can act as a bridge between tradition and contemporary society, enabling sacred spaces to continue inspiring faith and reflection in modern audiences.

Now in its third year, the conference welcomed keynote speakers from across Europe to explore how preserving sacred spaces helps keep their spiritual message alive in today’s world. Participants included researchers, students, practitioners, and professionals who engaged in meaningful dialogue and knowledge-sharing, reinforcing the synergy between faith-based communities and the conservation world.

The conference was opened by Mgr. Prof. Emmanuel Agius, President of The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, who remarked that “Across the centuries sacred art and architecture have served as effective channels of evangelization because they expressed, communicated, and nourished the faith of Christian communities. This is, regrettably, no longer the case with contemporary society, because today’s generations have lost their affinity with the syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of faith, with the tragic consequence that the visual spiritual message enshrined for two millennia in sacred art has gradually disappeared. The Church thus needs to explore a new syntax, a fresh grammar and an upgraded vocabulary of faith in order to engage today’s generations in understanding the spiritual message that sacred art has been transmitting for two millennia”.

While the H.G. Archbishop Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, in his address, he added “Restoration and conservation of sacred art are important not only for the preservation of aesthetic beauty and the safeguarding of humanity’s historical and cultural patrimony but also in bringing out more effectively the spiritual beauty creatively communicated by the artist. Conservation methods and techniques ensure that artistic beauty and its spiritual mediation continue to be enjoyed and experienced without the risk of losing them forever”.

The event successfully provided a platform for robust discussion, interdisciplinary collaboration, and reflection on the evolving role of cathedrals in today’s society—especially as they continue to serve as both spiritual centres and cultural landmarks.

The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation remains committed to positioning the Co-Cathedral and its initiatives on the European cultural and academic map. Through conferences such as this, the Foundation fosters a shared European heritage network, advancing research, encouraging innovation, and deepening ties among cathedrals and their communities across the continent.

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