Lebanese Enthusiasm Waits For Pope Leo XIV Who Will Pray At The Beirut Explosion Site

Pope Leo XIV. ( Instagram @pontifex)

JAKARTA - Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to make his first visit since becoming the supreme leader of the Catholic Church to Lebanon this week.

The US-born whale is planned to arrive in Beirut on Sunday, November 30. The next day Leo will visit St. Maron Annaya's Monastery as well as Santo Charbel's grave in the mountainous region of northern Lebanon.

The head of the Monastery, Tannous Nehme, admitted that he was enthusiastic about the visit of the monasteries that he estimated to attract around three million visitors every year.

"Not only Christians, many Muslims come to visit, there are also many non-religious people. They come from everywhere Africa, Europe, Russia," Nehme said as quoted by AFP, Tuesday, November 25.

Claude Issa, 56, a mother of three, a Lebanese citizen is also similar to the Chief Monastery. According to him, the arrival of Pope Leo can bring high public optimism in living the days amid the Israeli attacks that continue to occur in Lebanon.

The Pope's visit is very important to Lebanon. This visit brings goodness and blessings... and optimism for the people of Lebanon," said Claude Issa.

Before the war raged, Lebanon was shaken by the economic collapse that began in 2019, and the devastating explosion at Beirut Port the following year killed more than 220 people and injured about 6,500 people.

The Pope will hold a silent prayer at the site of the explosion, where the perpetrators are still 'buram' today.

"The Pope's visit will refresh people's hearts and make them feel there is still hope in Lebanon," continued Issa.

St. Maron Annaya's Monastery as well as the location of the grave of Santo Charbel. Santo Charbel has a broad appeal in Lebanon, even outside the Christian community. Many consider him not only a miracle maker, but also a national symbol.

The depiction of a white king with a white beard, his eyes bowed in prayer, and wearing a black robe, can be found in homes, vehicles, and workplaces.

Randa Saliba, 60, a Lebanese, called Santo Charbel "a message of love ... and the face of Lebanon."

Charbel was born under the name Youssef Makhlouf in northern Lebanon in 1828 and entered the Lebanese Order at the age of 23. He then joined the Prophet's Monastery Maron Annaya, where he became a hermitist and lived an aspirational life.

He was declared a sino in 1977.

Currently, the workers are busy confirming the road to St. Maron Annaya's Monastery. Meanwhile, the visitors, including women wearing hijabs, touring the site, lighting candles, or praying solemnly to their priests.

The smell of perfume is still smelled in the air at the St. Maron Annaya Monastery. The calm of the stone monasteries was only disturbed by the voices of workers restoring the grave of Santo Charbel.

Pope Leo's visit to Lebanon follows the visit of Benedict XVI in 2012 and John Paul II in 1997.

His visit included a meeting with senior officials in the crisis-hit country, including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world.

Under the multi-confessional power-sharing system in Lebanon, the position of Lebanese President is for a Christian.

Lebanese Church is in full fellowship with Rome.