Pope Leo XIV in Lebanon: A Day Rooted in the Mountain of Saint Charbel
Lebanon, 30 November to 1 December 2025
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lebanon on the afternoon of 30 November. His welcome was joyful and heartfelt. Crowds filled the streets. Flags were raised. Dabkeh was danced. It was the kind of reception that belongs only to a people who still know how to rejoice when a father comes to visit. This warmth set the tone. The following day, 1 December, unfolded with a quiet depth that found its center not in the capital, but in the mountain of Annaya.
Annaya: Before the Tomb Where Silence Becomes Light
The Pope began his first full day in Lebanon at the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya. This was not a ceremonial stop. It was the foundation of everything that followed.
He entered the small chapel that holds the tomb of Saint Charbel. He remained there in silence. It was the kind of silence that has shaped generations of pilgrims. A silence that does not isolate, but gathers. A silence that gives back to the heart its clarity. The Pope prayed there with the same simplicity that characterized the saint’s own life.
After the prayer he placed a lamp in the sanctuary. The gesture was beautiful in its simplicity. It did not call attention to itself. It expressed a truth without words. Light was offered at the tomb of the monk whose hidden life continues to illuminate the Church.
In his address, the Pope thanked God for the grace of arriving here as a pilgrim. He recalled the desire of his predecessors to stand in this same place. He greeted the monks with gratitude for preserving the memory and spirit of Saint Charbel.
Then he spoke about the saint. His description was measured and sincere. He did not present Saint Charbel as a distant ideal or a romantic figure. He presented him as a guide given by the Holy Spirit for our own time.
He reflected on four attitudes that shaped Charbel’s life.
- Prayer, for a world that forgets God.
- Silence, for a time that fears stillness.
- Modesty, for cultures that build themselves on appearance.
- Poverty of spirit, for societies that seek security in possession.
These attitudes are not fashionable. They do not fit the rhythm of the age. Yet they speak to the human heart with a clarity that does not change. The Pope presented them without exaggeration and without pressure. He offered them simply as a path that leads to freedom.
He then entrusted three intentions to the saint’s intercession. He prayed for the unity of the Church, beginning in families, then in parishes and dioceses, and finally in the universal Church. He prayed for peace in Lebanon and in the wider region. He prayed for the conversion of hearts, without which peace cannot endure.
He concluded with an invitation to continue walking in the light of Christ. The Annaya visit ended without triumph or spectacle. It ended as it began. Quiet. Stable. Rooted. It became the spiritual center of the entire day.
Harissa: Under the Protection of Our Lady of Lebanon
From Annaya, the Pope travelled to Harissa to meet bishops, priests, religious and pastoral workers. The encounter took place in the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon.
Testimonies were offered by those who serve in difficult situations. The Gospel was proclaimed in Arabic. The Pope spoke with encouragement and gratitude. He invited the Church in Lebanon to remain faithful to its mission and to trust God in the midst of many challenges. He asked that young people be given real responsibility and support within the life of the Church.
At the end of the encounter he offered the Golden Rose to Our Lady of Lebanon. It was a gesture of devotion and gratitude.
At the Nunciature: A Moment of Communion
At midday the Pope met with the Catholic patriarchs of the East. The meeting was calm and fraternal. They spoke of the pastoral needs of their communities and of the path toward greater unity.
A shared meal followed with Orthodox leaders as well. It was a quiet sign of communion and mutual respect.
Martyrs Square: A Word for the Nation
Later in the afternoon the Pope participated in an ecumenical and interreligious gathering in Martyrs Square in Beirut. Christian, Muslim and Druze leaders stood together. The Pope spoke about the dignity of each community and the importance of building a society rooted in justice and respect.
He invited all present to allow peace to take root in their hearts. He encouraged Lebanon to remain faithful to its vocation as a land where different communities live side by side.
A symbolic tree planting concluded the gathering.
Bkerké: The Hope of the Young
The final event of the day took place at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké. Young people from across the country gathered with joy and enthusiasm. The Pope encouraged them to carry hope into their daily lives, to serve their communities, and to trust that their presence in Lebanon remains important.
He invited them to look toward the example of Saint Charbel, not to imitate every detail of his life, but to live with the same sincerity and clarity of heart.