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.

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.

#MaltaDaily