Tiziana Campisi – Vatican City
Pope Leo XIV has authorized the beatification of a Lebanese monk and a French Franciscan, even as also recognizing the heroic virtues of an Italian priest, an Indian Capuchin friar, and a layman from Brescia. The announcements, made on February 21, 2026, highlight the Catholic Church’s ongoing process of recognizing individuals for their exceptional holiness and service.
Béchara Abou-Mourad, a priest of the Basilian Order of the Most Holy Savior of the Melkites, will be beatified following the recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession: the healing of a woman confined to a wheelchair. The Pope authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree during an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro.
Simultaneously, Pope Leo XIV approved the beatification of Gabriele Maria, a French priest of the Order of Friars Minor and co-founder of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This beatification is based on longstanding, spontaneous devotion to the priest.
A Lebanese Blessing
Born Selim Béchara Abou-Mourad in Zahlé, Lebanon, on May 19, 1853, the future Blessed discerned a vocation to the priesthood at a young age. He joined the monastery of the Basilian Fathers of the Most Holy Savior in Sidon and was ordained a priest on December 26, 1883.
Initially serving as “Master of Discipline” at the Basilian minor seminary, he was later sent to Deir el Qamar for pastoral ministry. Facing a lack of a dedicated church building, he celebrated Mass in private homes. With support from the local bishop, the faithful, and benefactors, he oversaw the construction of a church. He also founded a private charitable society and was known for his charity, zealous dedication, and deep spirituality.
In 1922, due to his age and declining health, he was transferred to the Melkite cathedral in Sidon, where he continued his pastoral work as a confessor. He spent his final years at the Convent of Saint Savior, where he died on February 22, 1930.
The miracle attributed to his intercession involves the healing of a woman diagnosed with advanced arthritis and severe knee hernias in 1983. After praying for his intercession in 2009, she was able to walk without assistance or pain, regaining a normal life.
A French Franciscan
Gabriele Maria, born Gilberto Nicolas around 1460 near Riom, France, is also recognized through a decree confirming his long-standing cult. He received a solid Christian education and developed a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. A sermon on the Immaculate Conception inspired him to pursue a religious life.
He entered the convent of Notre-Dame de Lafond among the Observant Minor Friars, and after ordination as a priest, he taught moral theology to younger confreres for nearly two decades.
A pivotal moment in his life was his encounter with Jeanne de Valois, the repudiated wife of King Louis XII of France. He became her confidant and spiritual father, and together they founded the Order of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1501, writing its rules. For approximately thirty years, he led the new religious family as its superior general, expanding its reach to Belgium, the Netherlands, England, and Spain.
Between 1511 and 1514, he held leadership and governance roles within the Order of Friars Minor of the Observance, serving as a provincial vicar of Aquitaine and Burgundy, and general vicar of the Ultramontane Observance. In 1517, he was appointed general commissary. During this period, Pope Leo X bestowed upon him the name Gabriele Maria.
In subsequent years, amidst complex debates within the Franciscan family, he published a commentary on the Rule of Saint Francis, demonstrating his theological and canonical expertise, and continued to hold important positions within his Order. He died on August 27, 1532, in Rodez.
A learned and multifaceted man, deeply devoted to the Virgin Mary, he patiently and consistently fostered the spiritual growth of the Franciscan family. He was a compelling preacher and lived in poverty, relying fully on God’s will, offering wisdom and guidance to all who sought him.
A Priest of Bussana
Francesco Lombardi, born on February 24, 1851, in Terzorio, Italy, is also now recognized as venerable. He felt a calling to the priesthood early in life and entered the Monastery of Santa Scholastica in Subiaco in 1864, but returned home in 1867 due to health issues.
Despite his health, he continued his ecclesiastical studies and was ordained a priest on August 19, 1874. He served as an administrator and then pastor in Bussana, Liguria, for 47 years, known for his spiritual life, preaching, religious practice, catechesis, and care for places of worship.
He promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and became a guide for many faithful. He provided support during the devastating earthquake of February 23, 1887, which struck during Ash Wednesday Mass, causing 54 deaths and destroying the church and part of the town.
The priest worked to build a sanctuary dedicated to the Sacred Heart in place of the old church, which became a pilgrimage destination. He also established a kindergarten, a workshop for young women, a shelter for the elderly, and an orphanage. Following the principles of Pope Leo XIII’s social encyclical Rerum Novarum, he founded a Mutual Aid Workers’ Society and a rural bank.
He died in Bussana on February 13, 1922. He frequently prayed and spent time in Eucharistic adoration, reciting the Rosary even while walking the streets, encouraging others to cultivate prayer.
An Indian Capuchin
Theophane, originally Michael Koodalloor, was born on July 20, 1913, in Kottapuram, India. He received a strong Christian upbringing and entered the diocesan minor seminary of the Archdiocese of Verapoly in 1929.
Drawn to the Franciscan religious life and the spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi, he joined the Capuchin convent in Farangipet and took the name Theophane on October 31, 1933.
Ordained a priest on April 20, 1941, he served as a director of postulants, chaplain, and member of the Capuchin missionary group for spiritual retreats. In 1947, he became the guardian of the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Kunnam and later a pastor in Tiruchirapally and Kotagiri, where he also taught Sacred Scripture and homiletics at the local Capuchin theological seminary.
As chaplain to various female religious congregations, he dedicated himself to pastoral and social promotion activities among the Indian population’s castes. After moving to Ponnurummi, he promoted the construction of a convent dedicated to Saint Bonaventure, along with a church and a seminary for Capuchin vocations.
He died on April 4, 1968, in Ernakulam. Considered one of the most appreciated Capuchin preachers of his time, he was known as a holy priest, valued for his humility and availability to those in require. He lived the spirit of poverty of Saint Francis of Assisi, welcoming all with fraternal charity and generosity.
A Venerable Layman from Brescia
Fausto Gei, born in Brescia on March 24, 1927, also received the title of venerable. From a Catholic family, he attended the Oratory of Peace, directed by the Filipino Fathers, including Father Carlo Manziana, who became his spiritual director.
He developed a strong social and civic awareness and was briefly imprisoned in March 1945 for alleged anti-fascist activities.
After the war, he studied medicine at the University of Pavia but was forced to abandon his studies due to multiple sclerosis and the loss of leg function.
After a period of turmoil, he accepted his condition as an opportunity for apostolate. The progression of the disease gradually deprived him of the use of his hands and speech.
He joined the Movement of Volunteers of Suffering and the Association of Silent Workers of the Cross, promoting them in his diocese and professing the evangelical counsels. He dedicated himself to evangelizing the sick, supporting them in faith and encouraging their active participation in Church life through correspondence and spiritual assistance.
His health deteriorated due to pulmonary edema, and he died on March 28, 1968. He was a witness to the Gospel despite his physical suffering, transforming it into an opportunity to help others, especially those with similar conditions. He also raised awareness about the needs of the sick and their families. A devotee of the Virgin Mary, he prayed the Rosary daily.
