Leo XIV visits important Christian sites in Lebanon, thousands celebrate his arrival

On Monday, thousands of people welcomed Pope Leo XIV in Lebanon as he toured key Christian locations. His first stop was the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf in Aannaya, north of Beirut. Despite heavy rain, crowds lined the streets to greet the pontiff, waving Lebanese and Vatican flags and tossing flower petals and rice at his popemobile.

Saint Charbel Makhlouf (18281898) is a revered monk known for performing miracles, making his tomb a major pilgrimage site for Christians. Pope Leo XIV began with a quiet prayer at the dimly lit tomb before addressing the crowd in French: "We pray for peace in the world. We pray especially for Lebanon and for the entire Levant."

Following this, the pope traveled to Harissa, another prominent Christian pilgrimage site famous for its statue of the Virgin Mary. There, he met with about 2,000 priests and religious workers, who greeted him with loud applause and cries of "Viva il Papa," expressing their admiration and support.

Christians make up roughly 30% of Lebanons population, while Muslims comprise about 70%, split evenly between Shiites and Sunnis. Pope Leo XIV's visit is seen as a hopeful sign for peace and stability in a nation that has endured decades of conflict and crises.

Author: Sophia Brooks