Pope Leo: A pilgrim at the tomb of St. Charbel

Despite the rain, crowds with flags and umbrellas welcome Pope Leo XIV at the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, the resting place of St. Charbel Makhlouf - 'a saint that represents Lebanon.'

On the winding roads leading up a hill in the Mount Lebanon region, mixed in with the Lebanese and Holy See flags and posters of Pope Leo XIV were images and statues of a hooded, bearded monk: St. Charbel Makhlouf.

Pope Leo visits the tomb of St. Charbel in Lebanon (@Vatican Media)

For the first time, a Pope visited the tomb of this Lebanese Maronite hermit, known for numerous miraculous healings attributed to his intercession.

Pope Leo entered the small stone grotto with its rounded ceiling, and as a choir sang, he knelt to pray in front of the saint’s resting place.

“The Holy Spirit formed him so that he could teach those who live without God how to pray, those who live immersed in noise how to be silent, those who live ostentatiously how to be modest, and those who seek riches how to be poor,” said the Pope in his address.

“Sisters and brothers, today we entrust to Saint Charbel’s intercession the needs of the Church, Lebanon and the world,” he emphasized. “For the world, we ask for peace. We especially implore it for Lebanon and for the entire Levant. But we know well – and the saints remind us – that there is no peace without conversion of hearts. May Saint Charbel, therefore, help us to turn to God and ask for the gift of conversion for all of us.”

As the pouring rain could be heard falling on the courtyard outside, cards were passed around the small audience in the grotto with an image of St. Charbel together with Pope Leo’s concluding prayer at his tomb. One man kissed the image of the monk and then held it close to his heart.

Church knows pain of the Lebanese people

Outside, a crowd was gathered on the road leading up to the monastery. Young people, families, religious and others braved the rain and wind, waving flags and cheering, hoping to get a glimpse of the Pope.

“I am here to see the Pope in a place where a saint resides, a saint that represents Lebanon,” said Majd Samia, highlighting how Pope Leo was elected on May 8, the day St. Charbel was born.

“There is this link and St. Charbel is a huge sign of hope, faith and peace for Lebanon,” he continued. “The fact that the successor of Peter is here to see St. Charbel is a historical moment. He gives us hope that the Church is with us, she prays for us and she knows the pain of the Lebanese people,” Samia emphasized.

Encouragement for Christians and those of other faiths

Elias Maroun arrived at 6:00 am with his two children, 7 and 11-years-old, one of whom is called Charbel, hoping to have the chance to see the Pope.

“Even if there is the rain and a storm, we don’t care. What we care about is the ability to welcome and be happy with the Pope - this is why we are here,” he said, American flag in hand, as he is Lebanese but has lived in the United States.

“We need a push for Christians in the Middle East because we are the minority here,” Maroun said. “We ask the Pope to give us a push so that it can help the people, the schools, the hospitals and all that we need to be able to stay in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon and here on Mount Lebanon.”

The father of two emphasized how important it was that the Pope visited this area because “no one comes to the mountains where the people are poor.” Maroun also highlighted how Mount Lebanon is home to many Muslims and St. Charbel is also venerated amongst them.

“St. Charbel is important for all the Lebanese not just for the Christians and Catholics, everyone comes here and asks for help,” he concluded.

Isabella H. de Carvalho - Annaya
Source: vaticannews.va/en