Lebanese pilgrims march to Kfifan to honor Brother Estephan Nehmé, as calls grow for his sainthood amid prayers for peace and unity.
Newsroom (01/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) Thousands of Lebanese Christians, joined by a small number of Muslim participants, made a five-hour uphill pilgrimage through the mountains of northern Lebanon on June 27, marking the 16th anniversary of the beatification of Brother Estephan Nehmé. Their destination was the monastery of Kfifan, where the humble monk spent much of his life in prayer, labor, and quiet devotion.
Banners bearing Nehmé’s personal motto—“Allah Yarani,” or “God sees me”—were carried throughout the procession, a phrase that has come to define both his spirituality and the enduring devotion of those who revere him. For the faithful gathered, the march was not only a commemoration but a collective appeal for his canonisation.
“We are praying for him to be a saint,” said Fr Estephan Farah, superior of the Kfifan monastery, in remarks to Vatican News. He spoke of a figure who, though deceased since 1938, remains spiritually present to many believers. “[Brother Nehmé] performs many miracles,” he said, adding that “the prayer of these crowds will make him a saint.”
The procession began at midday in the coastal city of Batroun and steadily grew as it passed through villages, with more participants joining along the way. By the time the pilgrims reached Kfifan, their number had swelled to well over a thousand. Lebanese flags and images of the beatified monk were carried throughout, underscoring both national pride and religious devotion.
Brother Estephan Nehmé, beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, is remembered for a life defined by simplicity and discipline. At the monastery, he devoted himself to manual labor in the fields and in construction, embodying a spirituality grounded in daily work and constant prayer. According to Fr Farah, his example continues to resonate. “Brother Estephan today tells us to live simply in the everydayness of life,” he said. “What he lived every day was prayer, work, being faithful to his vocation.”
The spiritual legacy of Nehmé was further explored during the Mass that followed the march. In his homily, Bishop Munir Khairallah, the Maronite Eparch of Batroun, drew parallels between Nehmé and Saint Charbel Makhlouf, another revered Lebanese saint. He described both as figures of “ascetic spirituality” rooted in direct communion with God through prayer, austerity, and labor.
“Brother Estephan took a motto for himself, ‘God sees me,’” Bishop Khairallah said, “and spent his life constantly looking up to heaven in prayer.” The bishop’s remarks reinforced the perception of Nehmé not merely as a historical figure, but as a living spiritual influence whose example continues to inspire.
The pilgrimage unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing violence in southern Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have continued to claim lives. The contrast between the conflict and the peaceful gathering in Kfifan was not lost on participants. Among those present were four Italian army officers from the Italian Bilateral Military Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL), whom Bishop Khairallah publicly thanked for their role in promoting peace in the region.
For many, the march carried a message that extended beyond religious devotion. Reflecting on the significance of the gathering, Fr Farah emphasized its broader meaning: “It tells us that peace is what we want. The message of saints is to be gathered not for war, but for peace.”
In a country often marked by political instability and sectarian tension, the pilgrimage to Kfifan stood as a rare moment of unity—rooted in shared faith, collective memory, and a hope that the life of a humble monk may soon be formally recognized by the Church as one of sainthood.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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