Maronite Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay led a delegation of more than 40 young Australian Lebanese on a historic pilgrimage to Lebanon for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic visit this week. Source: Maronite Eparchy.
The three‑day visit, held from November 30 to December 2, marked Pope Leo’s first trip to Lebanon since his election and centred on a message of hope and peace for the country and the broader Middle East.
At the meeting with bishops, priests, consecrated men and women and pastoral workers in Harissa, Bishop Tarabay met Pope Leo and greeted him personally with a warm handshake that symbolised the living bond between the Maronite diaspora, their homeland and the Holy See.
“As a Maronite bishop serving the faithful in Australia, I was honoured to receive the blessing of His Holiness the Pope and to thank him for his timely visit to Lebanon in support of peace,” Bishop Tarabay said.
“The meeting brought great joy to the Lebanese community in Australia, especially Maronites, and is a blessing I carry back to our Church.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, not merely the peace lovers. Peace demands action, commitment and sacrifice. We are called to make peace happen, not simply to hope for it, just as Pope Leo is calling us and teaching us through his visit.”
The Australian delegation was accompanied by Fr Danny Nouh, dean of Our Lady of Lebanon Co‑Cathedral in Sydney, who underscored the visit’s call to action.
“For our young people, this pilgrimage was more than a journey; it was a chance to discover their identity, connect with their roots, and stand alongside their peers in Lebanon during a truly historic moment,” Fr Nouh said.
“The encounter with Pope Leo and participation in the youth event at Bkerke will remain with them for the rest of their lives.”
During their pilgrimage, the youth met with Patriarch Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai and participated in the event at Bkerke with Pope Leo.
For many of the group, it was their first visit to Lebanon.
“Visiting Lebanon for the first time helped me understand more about my identity and my roots. I felt deeply connected to my heritage,” Christiane Shina said.
“Being part of the youth event in Bkerke and meeting the Patriarch made me feel closer to my family’s faith and culture than ever before.”
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Australian Maronite Youth Join Bishop Tarabay in Historic Visit of Pope Leo to Lebanon (Maronite Eparchy)
