At the age of sixteen, recognized as a brilliant young talent, he was sent to the Maronite College (Seminary) in Rome.

El Douaihy believed that the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary was responsible for his cure.

[5] On 8 July 1668 he was appointed and consecrated bishop of the Maronite Diocese of Cyprus by Patriarch George Beseb'ely.

This is universally seen as an acknowledgment of his personal moral qualities, his extraordinary learning, and his keen appreciation of the issues the Maronites faced.

[citation needed] El Douaihy traveled throughout the Maronite world, including Cyprus and Aleppo.

The Positio for the beatification cause was published in 2005 and it received the approval of the Historical Commission of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints on 24 January 2006.

Pope Francis approved the miracle required for his beatification on 17 March 2024, and he was beatified on August 2, 2024 in Bkerke, Lebanon.

[citation needed] Al-Duwayhi strongly believed in the social importance of education and science (being an amateur scientist himself).

Given the importance of learning, and his experience in how far European education exceeded Oriental, he pursued a successful policy of sending as many Maronites to Rome as possible, to become capable of returning to the villages in which the Maronite peasantry lived, and raising the level of general education.