Patriarch Elias Howayek, the Maronite leader widely regarded as the founding father of Greater Lebanon, was officially declared "Blessed" by the Catholic Church on Saturday during a historic beatification ceremony at the Maronite Patriarchate's summer seat in Dimane.

Thousands of faithful from Lebanon and Maronite communities across the world gathered for the solemn celebration, which took place at the patriarchal headquarters that Howayek himself established. The ceremony followed Pope Leo XIV's decree of May 22 recognizing a miracle attributed to Howayek's intercession.

The event brought together Lebanon's top political, military and religious leaders, underscoring both Howayek's spiritual significance and his enduring place in the country's modern history.

Among those attending were President Joseph Aoun and First Lady Nehmat Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his wife, Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal and his wife, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and personal representative of Pope Leo XIV, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paolo Borgia, patriarchs and bishops from the Maronite and other Christian churches, senior clergy, cabinet ministers, members of parliament, diplomats, military and security officials, and thousands of worshippers.

The ceremony began with a liturgical procession before Bishop Mounir Khairallah formally petitioned the Holy See for the proclamation of the beatification on behalf of the Maronite Church. Bishop Hanna Alwan then reflected on Howayek's spiritual and national legacy before Cardinal Semeraro read Pope Leo XIV's decree of beatification in Latin. 

'The Glory of Lebanon Was Given to Him'

Delivering the homily, Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi described Howayek as "a luminous figure in the history of both the Church and the nation," emphasizing that sainthood is not a human distinction but "a gift from God granted to those who remain faithful to the Gospel until the end."

Speaking under the title "The Glory of Lebanon Was Given to Him," al-Rahi said the Church was recognizing God's work through Howayek's life rather than conferring earthly honor upon him.

He said Howayek's lifelong motto, "My God, Your Will," guided both his spiritual vocation and his public mission, making him a shepherd devoted equally to God, humanity and his homeland.

Al-Rahi praised Howayek's humanitarian efforts during the famine that devastated Mount Lebanon during World War I, recalling how he opened churches and monasteries to feed the hungry and mobilized Church resources to care for the poor, earning a lasting reputation as the father of the poor and the suffering.

He also highlighted Howayek's decisive role on the international stage after World War I, when he represented Lebanon at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference and successfully advocated for the creation of an independent Lebanese state extending beyond the former Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate.

According to al-Rahi, Howayek did not seek a homeland for one religious community, but envisioned a country founded on partnership, justice and equality among all its citizens.

The patriarch said Howayek's vision of coexistence and harmony in diversity remains essential to Lebanon's future, urging today's political leaders to reject domination and exclusion, place national interests above sectarian divisions, and emulate Howayek's integrity, faith and selflessness.

"He believed Lebanon should be a nation of freedom, sovereignty and coexistence," al-Rahi said, adding that the country remains in need of statesmen who put people before political interests.

The patriarch also paised Howayek's lasting contributions to education, religious life and social services, including the founding of the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family in 1895, the expansion of Maronite institutions in Paris, Rome, Jerusalem and Egypt, and his support for establishing the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.

Prayer for Lebanon

Turning to current affairs, al-Rahi welcomed what he described as encouraging developments following President Aoun's recent visit to Washington, where he met U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel and efforts to secure Israel's withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory.

"We pray through the intercession of Blessed Elias Howayek that Lebanon's hopes for stability, reconstruction and the implementation of the framework agreement may be fulfilled," al-Rahi said. "May our country achieve sovereignty over all its territory, full independence, complete liberation, and a lasting, just and comprehensive peace."

Before the ceremony, President Aoun met privately with al-Rahi in the presence of Apostolic Nuncio Paolo Borgia and Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan.

Founder of Greater Lebanon

Born on Dec. 4, 1843, in Helta, northern Lebanon, Elias Howayek entered the seminary at the age of 16 before continuing his theological studies in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1870 and returned to Lebanon, where he and Mother Rosalie Nasr founded the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family in Aabrine, the first apostolic women's congregation within the Maronite Church.

Elected Maronite patriarch in 1899, Howayek led the Church until his death in 1931, one of the longest patriarchates in its history. During his three decades as patriarch, he strengthened priestly formation, expanded Christian education, promoted charitable works and guided the Maronite Church through one of the Middle East's most transformative periods.

He is widely regarded by historians as one of the principal architects of modern Lebanon for successfully championing the creation of Greater Lebanon at the Paris Peace Conference following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Beyond his political achievements, Howayek envisioned Lebanon as a pluralistic state built on partnership, openness, coexistence and a balance between East and West—a vision that continues to shape debates over Lebanon's national identity.

He is buried at the convent of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family in Aabrine.

Miracle Led to Beatification

Howayek's beatification became possible after the Vatican officially recognized a miracle attributed to his intercession.

Pope Francis declared Howayek "Venerable" in 2019. Under Catholic Church rules, a verified miracle is required before beatification.

The miracle approved by the Vatican involved the unexplained recovery of a Lebanese Druze soldier suffering from a degenerative spinal bone disease. According to Church authorities, the soldier had never heard of Howayek before his healing.

The Church says the case joins a series of unexplained recoveries attributed to Howayek's intercession dating back to shortly after his death in 1931.