BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Pope Leo XIV traveled deep into Lebanon’s mountains on Monday to pray at the tomb of one of the country’s most beloved saints, delivering a call for peace, coexistence and renewed hope in a region shaken by years of war, political paralysis and economic collapse. The visit marked the first time any pope has prayed at the shrine of St. Charbel Makhlouf, a figure venerated by Christians and Muslims alike and viewed as a symbol of spiritual healing and national unity.
Thousands braved waves of rain as the pontiff’s covered popemobile wound its way through the narrow roads leading to Annaya, a hilltop village roughly 40 kilometers from Beirut. The crowds lined the route for hours, waving Lebanese and Vatican flags and scattering rose petals and rice as the car passed, hoping for a glimpse of the American-born pope who has made interfaith dialogue a defining theme of his first months in office.
For many Lebanese, the arrival of Leo XIV at the Monastery of St. Maroun offered a moment of solace during a time of extraordinary hardship. Each year, hundreds of thousands visit the monastery to kneel at the tomb of St. Charbel, the 19th-century Maronite hermit credited with miraculous healings. The small stone chamber where he is buried was dimly lit as the pope entered and knelt, offering a silent prayer before presenting the monastery with a lamp as a symbol of light and spiritual guidance.
Speaking briefly afterward in French, Leo entrusted “the needs of the church, Lebanon and the world” to the saint’s intercession. He pleaded for global peace and singled out Lebanon and the broader Levant, where decades of conflict have left communities fractured and security fragile.
The morning stop in Annaya opened a full day of engagements across the country. As the pope arrived at the Our Lady of Lebanon sanctuary in the town of Harissa—not far from the Mediterranean cliffs that overlook Beirut—he was greeted by jubilant chants, ululations and applause from priests, nuns and families who had gathered since dawn. Addressing church workers, Leo implored them to offer young people a future rooted not in fear but in opportunity.
“Even among the rubble of a world marked by painful failures,” he said, “we must give them real and achievable prospects for renewal and growth.” His remarks drew repeated cheers and cries of “Viva il Papa.”
The visit unfolded under heavy security. Lebanese troops lined motorcade routes; roads were closed or partially blocked. Leo traveled in a fully enclosed vehicle, a notable shift from his predecessor, Pope Francis, who favored open popemobiles throughout his pontificate. Officials said the precautions reflected the tense climate in Lebanon, where political deadlock, economic turmoil and cross-border tensions have left the country on edge.
The pope’s schedule included an interfaith gathering in Beirut later in the day, where he was expected to reinforce his appeal for coexistence among Lebanon’s Christian and Muslim communities. The gathering was timed against the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon’s own worsening political gridlock, which have deepened divisions and weakened institutions.
“We, as Lebanese, need this visit after all the wars, crises and despair that we have lived,” said the Rev. Youssef Nasr, secretary-general of Catholic Schools in Lebanon, who greeted Leo in Harissa. “The pope’s presence gives the Lebanese new strength to rise and to hold on to their country.”
One of the most charged internal debates in the country involves Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militia and political party that fought a war with Israel last year. The conflict left towns scarred and communities displaced, reigniting disputes over whether the group should be compelled to disarm. The tensions underscore the fragility of the country’s delicate sectarian balance.
The pope plans to end his day at Bkerki, the seat of the Maronite church, where he will address Lebanese youth. He is expected to urge them not to give up on Lebanon or join the growing exodus of young people seeking stability abroad.
Leo arrived in Lebanon on Sunday from Turkey, where he began his first foreign trip as pope. From the moment he stepped off the plane in Beirut, he pressed national leaders to set aside their rivalries and act as genuine peacemakers. His appeal was especially directed at Lebanon’s Christians, whom he encouraged to remain in the country despite the challenges facing the region.
Lebanon has the highest percentage of Christians in the Middle East, with roughly one-third of its five million people belonging to Christian communities. The country’s unique power-sharing system—established at independence from France—requires the president to be a Maronite Christian, making Lebanon the only Arab nation led by a Christian head of state.
While Lebanon’s Christian population remains substantial, the Vatican has long feared a demographic decline similar to what occurred in Iraq and Syria, where centuries-old Christian communities have fled violence and persecution. Though emigration from Lebanon has been more gradual, the prolonged economic crisis has accelerated the departure of young professionals and families.
For many faithful, Leo’s visit was both spiritual reassurance and a reminder that their place in the region remains significant. “We will stay here,” said May Noon, a pilgrim waiting outside St. Charbel’s monastery. “No one can uproot us. We are meant to live here as brothers, because the church has no enemy.”
Among those who traveled long distances to witness the historic visit was Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, who brought a group of 60 Lebanese expatriates from Australia. He said the group wanted to show solidarity with Christians in Lebanon and encourage them to remain despite the hardships.
“Even though we live abroad, we feel we must support young people and families to stay,” he said, speaking from Harissa as he awaited the pope’s meeting with clergy. “We don’t want to see more and more people leaving Lebanon, especially Christians.”
Tarabay added that the Lebanese were deeply moved that Leo chose Lebanon as one of the first stops of his pontificate. “He is saying to the world: there are people here who are suffering, young people on the edge of desperation,” he said. “And he came to tell them: You are not forgotten.”
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