“With profound sorrow and a heart full of reverence, I offer this tribute to His Holiness Pope Francis—a man whose leadership transcended titles, whose compassion knew no borders, and whose voice carried the weight of God's mercy across the world.
My encounters with Pope Francis were more than moments in time; they were sacred chapters in my life, filled with divine grace and spiritual awakening. I was blessed to meet him on multiple occasions, each time as a messenger—bringing with me not only gifts, but causes that were dear to my soul.
The first time I was to meet him, I was meant to present a painting by a Lebanese artist. The painting, unfortunately, didn’t arrive in time. Instead, I handed him a letter explaining its significance and my intent to return the following year to complete the offering. But what happened next was deeply humbling: an acquaintance, Michael, whom I met on that journey entrusted me with a gift—a white papal skullcap, placed delicately in a black case. When I presented it to the Pope, he removed his own skullcap, placed the gifted one upon his head, then returned it to the case and blessed it. It was a simple, spontaneous gesture, but one that etched a permanent mark on my heart. In that moment, I felt the human side of holiness—present, pure, and profound.
In subsequent meetings, I brought with me guests and gifts that represented causes I passionately supported. One of the most joyful moments was when I presented the Holy Father with a running jersey from the Beirut Marathon. His face lit up with a smile that spoke to his deep love for Lebanon—a country he held in his prayers.
But it was my final visit that held the greatest weight. I presented Pope Francis with a massive mural and scarf composed of photos of the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Alongside it, I handed him the stories of those lives lost—names, faces, and dreams turned to dust. He studied the mural in silence, visibly moved, his expression full of sorrow and compassion. He blessed me, and I gave him other symbolic gifts, but what happened next would stay with me forever: the very next day, Pope Francis gave a public speech about Lebanon—his words carrying the pain, the hope, and the call for a free and independent nation.
That moment confirmed what I had always believed: when truth is placed in the hands of a moral giant, it does not stay silent. It echoes. It uplifts. It moves mountains.
Pope Francis led with humility and listened with his heart. He was a voice for the forgotten, a father to the broken, and a bridge between heaven and earth.
May his soul now be welcomed by the loving arms of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother, in the glory of his rightful place in heaven. His spirit lives on—in Lebanon, in every soul he touched, and in the love he gave to the world.
Rest in eternal peace, Holy Father. You have run the good race, you have kept the faith.
GodSpeed!”
Thomas Anthony Abraham
Founder of the Help Us Rise Initiative
This Easter, we celebrate renewal, our deep love for #lebanon, and pride in our rich heritage.
From our hearts to yours—Happy #easter!
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في هذا العيد، نحتفل بالتجدد، وبحبنا العميق للبنان، واعتزازنا بإرثنا العريق.
من القلب إلى القلب، #فصح_مجيد!
#لبنان
This Easter, we’re reminded that light can emerge even after the darkest nights. In the face of hardship, the spirit of renewal offers us strength to rebuild, serve, and care for one another.
At Help Us Rise, we carry this message forward—supporting our communities with compassion and resilience.
Wishing peace, hope, and blessings to our beloved Lebanon.
Happy Easter.
#Easter #HelpUsRise #Community
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في عيد الفصح هذا، نتذكّر أن النور يمكن أن يسطع حتى بعد أحلك الليالي. رغم الصعاب، تمنحنا هذه المناسبة المقدّسة قوّةً متجددة لننهض، ونخدم، ونتعاطف مع بعضنا البعض.
في مبادرة ساعدونا على النهوض، نُجسّد هذه الرسالة بدعم مجتمعاتنا بروح من المحبة والصلابة.
نتمنّى السلام والأمل لوطننا الحبيب #لبنان.
فصح مجيد.
#عيد_الفصح #ساعدونا_على_النهوض
On the 4th of August 2020, one of the biggest non-nuclear blasts in history hit Lebanon’s capital city Beirut, inflicting widespread devastation and causing immense suffering. Miami based philanthropist and businessman of Lebanese origins, Thomas G. Abraham, reached out to friends and alliances around the world so that they join hands in offering aid and relief to the people of Lebanon through the Help Us Rise initiative.
During its first year, the initiative was supported and managed by the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, chaired by Thomas G. Abraham. A year after the blast, he founded The Beirut Foundation to respond to the increasing crises Lebanon is facing. Today, the Help Us Rise initiative is managed by The Beirut Foundation as one of its main projects.
