Pilgrims flock as Pope prepares to honour 'face of Lebanon' Saint Charbel

CHARBEL Matar says a Lebanese saint saved his life when he was a child. Now, he is among pilgrims of all faiths who visit Saint Charbel's tomb, soon to be graced by Pope Leo XIV.

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WORKERS rehabilitate the road leading to the Maronite monastery of Saint Maron, which houses the shrine of Saint Charbel, in the mountain village of Annaya, in preparation for the Pope's visit.

(AFP)

"My family and I have great faith in Saint Charbel and always visit him," said Matar, 69, at the Saint Maron Monastery in Annaya in the mountains of north Lebanon.

"I almost died when I was five. He performed a miracle and saved me from death, and kept me alive for 64 more years," said Matar, whose parents changed his name from Roger to Charbel to honour the saint.

In Pope Leo's first trip abroad since becoming head of the Catholic Church, the US-born pontiff will travel to Turkey and Lebanon, arriving in Beirut on November 30 and visiting the Annaya monastery the following day.

Saint Charbel has broad popular appeal in Lebanon even beyond the Christian community, with many seeing him not only as a miracle worker but also as a national symbol.

Depictions of the saint with a white beard, his eyes lowered in prayer and wearing black garb, can be found in homes, vehicles and workplaces.

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