Blessed Leonard Melki

Life story

Yūsuf Habīb Melkī was born on 4 October 1881 at B'abdāt in the Metn district of Mount Lebanon. He joined the Capuchin Friars Minor and was ordained a priest on 4 December 1904. He taught and preached in the Capuchin Mission of Armenia and Mesopotamia and later, according to his biography, became principal of the order's school in Mardin, where he taught French and music.

During the First World War, on 5 June 1915, he was arrested on a false charge of conspiring to help the French government. The sources say he was offered his freedom if he converted to Islam, and he refused. He was marched out of Mardin with more than four hundred Christian prisoners, among them, according to EWTN, the Armenian Catholic archbishop Ignatius Maloyan.

The column of prisoners was killed by Ottoman forces, and he was killed on 11 June 1915 near Mardin. On 27 October 2020 Pope Francis recognised that he had died for the faith. He was beatified on 4 June 2022 at Jal el-Dib near Beirut, with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro presiding on behalf of the pope, together with Father Thomas Saleh. He is remembered in the local liturgy on 10 June.

Works and witness

• Capuchin priest, ordained on 4 December 1904
• Taught and preached in the Mardin mission
• Arrested on 5 June 1915 on a false charge
• Refused to convert in exchange for freedom
• Beatified on 4 June 2022

Saints from the same country

Saint Charbel Makhlouf, Saint Rafqa, Saint Nimatullah Kassab, Blessed Stephen Nehmé

References

• EWTN News, report on the 4 June 2022 beatification of Leonard Melki and Thomas Saleh
• Fides, Martyrdom of two Lebanese Capuchin missionaries recognized (fides.org/en/news/68927); Trenton Monitor / UCA News, beatification at Jal el-Dib (4 June 2022)
• Wikipedia, Leonard Melki (dates of birth, ordination, arrest, death 11 June 1915)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.