Fr Martin Micallef, 46, is the new provincial minister of the Capuchin friars in Malta.
He was elected at the 67th provincial chapter, which was presided over by Fr Pio Murrat, General Definitor.
Fifty-one friars took part in the chapter, held last week.
Fr Micallef obtained a doctorate after defending a thesis on the Gospel of John.
He is head of the Department of Sacred Scripture at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Malta and is also a lecturer of biblical studies.