In a powerful display of faith and regional unity, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, began his first full day in Lebanon by visiting the sacred tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the hilltop Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya. Despite a steady morning rain, thousands of enthusiastic Lebanese pilgrims lined the motorcade route, cheering and tossing flowers and rice, turning the inclement weather into a fervent religious celebration. This historic pilgrimage marks the first time a sitting Pope has visited the tomb of the 19th-century Maronite hermit, who is revered by both Christians and Muslims across the Levant for the numerous miracles attributed to his intercession.
A Message of Peace for the Levant
Inside the darkened tomb, Pope Leo XIV offered a lamp as a gift of light and engaged in quiet prayer, symbolically entrusting the nation and the region to the saint’s spiritual care. Speaking in French to the assembled clergy and faithful, the Pope delivered a poignant message that addressed the region’s intense political and social turmoil.
“Sisters and brothers, today we entrust to St. Charbel’s intercession the needs of the church, Lebanon and the world,” the Pope stated. “For the world, we ask for peace. We especially implore it for Lebanon and for the entire Levant.”
The visit is a central component of Pope Leo’s mission to Lebanon, which aims to recognize the nation’s religious pluralism and to send a critical message of hope to the region’s Christian communities, encouraging them to remain despite years of conflict, economic crises, and political deadlock. .
St. Charbel: A Symbol of Unity
The Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya is one of the Middle East’s most significant pilgrimage sites, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from all faiths. St. Charbel’s widespread appeal—being viewed as a national symbol and miracle worker—underscores Lebanon’s unique tradition of religious coexistence. Workers had been busy preparing the roads to the quiet monastery in anticipation of the Pope’s arrival, as the site’s tranquility was punctuated by the excitement of both Christian and Muslim pilgrims waiting to catch a glimpse of the Holy Father.
The outpouring of support for Pope Leo XIV, even amid the heavy rain, highlights the spiritual resonance of the visit. It demonstrates the profound desire for a unifying message in a country reeling from the 2020 Beirut port blast and ongoing political tensions. Later in the day, the Pope is scheduled to continue his busy itinerary by presiding over an interfaith gathering in Beirut alongside Lebanon’s Christian and Muslim leaders, further cementing his theme of hope and religious solidarity.
