Pope Leo Prays at Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf

Lebanon, December 2, 2025: On the second day of his Apostolic Visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV visited the tomb of St. Charbel, recalling the saint’s legacy of “prayer to those who live without God, silence to those who live amid noise… and poverty to those who pursue riches.”

Every year, thousands of pilgrims, Christians and Muslims alike, travel to Annaya in Lebanon to pray at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf. On Sunday morning, 1 December, Pope Leo XIV joined them.

Upon arriving at the main entrance of the Monastery of St. Maroun, where the tomb is located, the Pope was welcomed by the monastery’s superior, the Superior General of the Lebanese Maronite Order, and Lebanon’s President and First Lady.

Pope Leo spent time in silent prayer before St. Charbel’s tomb, followed by a welcome address from the Superior General, Abbot Mahfouz Hady.

In his address, delivered in French, the Pope reflected on St. Charbel, “who lived hidden and silent, yet whose fame spread throughout the world”. He said the hermit had been “shaped by the Holy Spirit” and had taught “prayer to those who live without God, silence to those who live amid noise, modesty to those who live for appearances, and poverty to those who pursue riches.”

A Call for Peace

Addressing Lebanon’s difficult recent history—marked by economic collapse, widespread poverty, failing public services, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and ongoing conflict with Israel—the Pope brought a message of hope.

“We ask for peace,” he said. “We implore it especially for Lebanon and for the whole Levant. But we know—and the saints remind us—that there is no peace without the conversion of hearts.”

He entrusted the needs of the Church, Lebanon, and the world to Saint Charbel’s intercession.

The ceremony concluded with a prayer to Saint Charbel and a papal blessing. Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, and his wife were also present.

A Gift from the Pope

Pope Leo then presented the monastery with a handcrafted silver-bronze votive lamp.

“In offering this lamp,” he said, “I entrust Lebanon and its people to the protection of Saint Charbel, that they may always walk in the light of Christ. Let us thank God for the gift of Saint Charbel! And thank you for preserving his memory. Walk in the light of the Lord!”

The visit marked a deeply symbolic moment in the Pope’s journey, reaffirming solidarity with Lebanon and honouring one of the country’s most venerated saints.

Pope Leo Prays at Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf

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