Two Franciscan Fathers martyred during the Ottoman Empire were beatified in Lebanon by Cardinal Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

Newsroom (09/06/2022 12:10, Gaudium Press) Friars Thomas Saleh, OFM, and Léonard Melki, OFM, martyred during the Ottoman Empire, was beatified last June 4.

The ceremony, celebrated in the Convent of the Cross (La Croix) in the city of Jal el-Dib, on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital, was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

Also present were other ecclesiastical authorities such as the apostolic nuncio in Lebanon, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, Cardinal Béchara Raï, and the Vicar of the Latins, César Essayan.

Some civil authorities were also present, such as ministers Walid Nassar and Georges Kallas and deputy Hagop Pakradounian representing the heads of state of Lebanon.

In his homily, Cardinal Semeraro described the journey of the two religions who were victims of the wave of violence at the end of the Ottoman Empire. But under the eye of faith, the two were victorious and added that “they were animated with the passion for truth and the love for the good, to the point of sacrificing their lives.

Cardinal Raï declared that the beatification of the two Franciscan priests “gives Lebanon the glory that political men made it lose.

Martyred for Hatred of Faith

Léonard Melki and Thomas Saleh was martyred in Turkey in 1915 and 1917 respectively.

Originally from Baabdate and childhood friends, they were already adults when nationalism began to persecute especially the Armenians and other minorities.

The Armenian genocide, planned by the Union and Progress Committee, began in April 1915 and victimized two-thirds of the Armenians living in present-day Turkey, approximately 1.2 million Armenians.

Capuchins Léonard Melki and Thomas Saleh were also killed out of hatred for their faith. Father Melki (1881-1915) refused to betray the Catholic faith. A detachment of military personnel searched the convent for hidden weapons but found nothing but the hidden Blessed Sacrament.

Father Léonard Melki was then tortured for a week, his fingernails and toenails were torn out. He was then taken to the desert along with 415 other prisoners where they were shot to death on June 11, 1915. Among the victims of this day is also Blessed Bishop Ignace Maloyan.

Father Thomas Saleh (1879-1917) was suspected of treason against the Ottoman Empire for hiding an Armenian priest. He was then sentenced to death and then deported in the middle of winter under escort by soldiers. He died of starvation and typhus on the way, on January 18, 1917. (FM)

Compiled by Dominic Joseph