Fathi Baladi

Although his life was cut short at the age of 19, Fathi Baladi left behind the memory of a young man of exceptional integrity and piety. Educated in a Melkite faith lived with conviction, he considered earthly existence a divine gift intended for the service of others. In addition to his architecture studies, Fathi devoted most of his free time to teaching catechism to the children of his parish. It was after his sudden death, while tidying his personal effects, that his mother discovered the extent of his inner life. The young man kept a spiritual journal and drew pious motifs, revealing a spiritual maturity and a mystical union with Christ quite singular for his age. His writings bear witness to a universal love and a constant attention to the most destitute, the afflicted, and the victims of the war that was raging around him.

Shortly after Fathi Baladi's burial, his tomb at the convent of Sarba became a place of spontaneous popular devotion. His parents, plunged into mourning, as well as numerous pilgrims, reported extraordinary phenomena occurring near his grave or in the family home: unexplained scents of incense, mysterious glows, voices, and apparitions. Several graces and physical healings deemed medically inexplicable were quickly attributed to his intercession. Among the most striking testimonies are the instantaneous and complete healing of a mother suffering from a severe duodenal ulcer (who was scheduled for surgery the next day) after praying to the young deceased, as well as the total remission of a woman suffering from an incurable skin disease (scleroderma) for thirteen years, which occurred after a visit to his tomb. These events prompted ecclesiastical authorities to rigorously document these facts and collect testimonies from relatives and doctors.

The cause for the beatification of Fathi Baladi was officially introduced on November 23, 1984, under the presidency of the then Greek-Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Beirut, Mgr Habib Bacha. On July 30, 1994, the Holy Synod of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church made the decision to actively pursue the procedure. However, persistent unrest related to the war and the successive deaths of the responsible archbishops caused the cause to remain dormant for many years.

The process gained new momentum thanks to the support of the Vatican. On September 10, 2018, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (under the direction of Cardinal Angelo Becciu) issued the nihil obstat decree, authorizing the official resumption of the investigation. On October 30, 2018, Mgr Cyrille Bustros, then Archbishop of Beirut, solemnly announced during a press conference the opening of the diocesan trial for his beatification as a martyr. Father Boulos Azzi, a member of the Lebanese Maronite Order (OLM) and a recognized specialist in the causes of Lebanese saints, was appointed postulator of the cause.

Fathi Baladi is currently recognized by the Catholic Church as a Servant of God. Although some databases and directories (notably Wikipedia) mention the existence of a decree of venerability promulgated by Pope Francis in 2019, the diocesan investigation is still ongoing in order to formally establish the heroism of his virtues or his martyrdom.

Nicknamed by some the "Pier Giorgio Frassati of Lebanon" because of his youth, his joy of living, and his discreet piety, Fathi Baladi embodies a model of daily lay holiness. His spirituality rests on the offering of self, the serene acceptance of God's will, and an active charity amidst the trials of the world.

In his intimate writings, he expressed a universal compassion, inviting everyone to look at the misery of those who suffer from hunger, cold, or loneliness in order to draw from it the strength of sharing and fraternal love. His legacy remains very much alive in Lebanon, particularly among the Christian youth of the East. Every Wednesday, a votive mass and prayers are celebrated in the church of the Saint-Sauveur convent in Sarba, where many faithful continue to come to pray at his tomb to ask for graces.