In his first public appearance as Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church wore a pectoral cross that was gifted to him by a Maltese Augustinian priest.

Church-owned media house Newsbook reported that Fr Josef Sciberras, Postulator General for the Augustinian Order in Rome, had gifted the cross to Robert Prevost when he was appointed Cardinal in 2023.

The cross is said to contain sacred relics from saints and blessed of the Order, including St Augustine himself, St Monica and others.

Fr Sciberras told TVM that he used to live in the same Augustinian community as the new Pope.

“He was the one who called me to take on the very role I’m doing now. I had already known him from my time as a student here, and he invited me to offer this service to the Order. For that, I’m deeply grateful,” he said.

“He is warm, approachable, and incredibly intelligent. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law and has no barriers about him — you can get close to him. He’s not someone who looks down on others.”