Australian maronites arrive in Lebanon for historic Papal visit

Hundreds of Lebanese Australians have landed in Beirut ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s historic three-day visit a moment many describe as emotional, spiritual, and deeply symbolic.

The Pope arrives on 30 November, marking the start of a packed schedule that includes official meetings with state and religious leaders, a pilgrimage to Annaya and Harissa on 1 December, and a vast open-air Mass at the Beirut Waterfront on 2 December, expected to draw more than 150,000 worshippers.

Among those returning to Lebanon for the visit is 20-year-old Natalia Tartak, who has been selected to deliver one of the readings during the Papal Mass an honour her family says they never imagined possible.

“As Maronites living in Australia, Lebanon is the heart and foundation of our spiritual and cultural identity,” she said.

“When we learned that the Holy Father was coming, we felt an immediate pull to be here and reconnect with our roots.” 

Back in Lebanon for the first time in 15 years, she said the journey had already changed her spiritually and emotionally. Visiting Harissa, Annaya and Bkerke, she said, “strengthened my faith in a deeply personal way.”

Her father, Mario Tartak, described the moment his daughter was chosen for the reading as overwhelming.

“I was completely moved to tears,” he said.

Our family in Australia is ecstatic many of them even flew to Lebanon to witness this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

A delegation representing the Maronite Church abroad

Maronite Bishop of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, has also travelled to Beirut, accompanied by a young delegation of 26 members representing the Australian Maronite community during the visit.

The group including parish priest Fr Danny Nouh will participate in the waterfront Mass and attend the Pope’s meeting with youth on 1 December, a gathering meant to renew dialogue, belonging, and identity among young Maronites worldwide.

“The Pope’s decision to visit Lebanon in his first international trip is a testament to his closeness to a people who have suffered deeply yet remain steadfast in hope,” Bishop Tarabay said.

“This visit is a moment of grace and a reminder of our mission of coexistence and unity.”

Diaspora youth rediscovering Lebanon

Among the delegates is Sarah Abboud, who described the days leading up to the visit as humbling and moving.

“Speaking to locals and sensing the excitement to welcome Pope Leo will remain a core memory,” she said.

“The billboards across Lebanon showing the Pope with the theme ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ reflect unity, pride, and a renewed national spirit.”

For her, the theme resonates strongly with Lebanon’s current reality. 

“Pope Leo’s planned visit to Martyrs’ Square for interfaith and ecumenical dialogue embodies the essence of that message,” she added.

I hope his words echo across the country and strengthen the bond between Lebanon and its diaspora.

She said she hopes to bring the spirit of the visit back to Australia and share it with her community.

“There will be so much emotion when he arrives and I want to bring that experience back home, along with his message and everything we felt being here.”

A homecoming with purpose

For many Lebanese Australians returning for the visit, this moment goes beyond ceremony. It represents a return to heritage, belonging, and spiritual grounding in a country where faith communities have long been central to identity and collective resilience.

As Lebanon prepares to welcome the Pope, the presence of diaspora communities especially its youth is a reminder that the story of Lebanon is not confined to its borders. It lives through generations scattered across continents, yet connected by memory, faith, and home.