Padre has links, including converted friend (8)
I believe the answer is:
chaplain
'padre' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'links including converted friend' is the wordplay.
'links' becomes 'chain' (a chain is made up of links).
'including' is an insertion indicator.
'converted friend' becomes 'apl' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'chain' going around 'apl' is 'CHAPLAIN'.
'has' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chaplain that I've seen before include "Clergyman attached to an institution, such as the army" , "cleric" , "Armed services clergyman" , "Member of the clergy attached to an institution" , "Member of the clergy, in 24 ac say" .)