Pope Leo XIV Visits Sweet Nuns at Conclusion of his 1st Day in Lebanon a Country of Great Religious Diversity - PICTURES



Pope Leo XIV conducted a brief, half-hour sojourn with the Carmelite Sisters of the Theotokos in Harissa on the initial night of his Lebanese itinerary. (See Key Information on Demographics of Lebanon at bottom of this post)

SEE Our FULL Coverage of the Pope's Visit to Turkiye and Lebanon https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/search/label/Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20in%20Turkiye%20and%20Lebanon

Following his engagement with Lebanon's governing officials earlier that Sunday evening, Pope Leo XIV journeyed to the spiritual haven that is the Monastery of the Carmelite Sisters of the Theotokos in Harissa.



As reported by the Holy See Press Office, the Supreme Pontiff personally exchanged salutations with every sister, subsequently receiving the respects of the presiding figures of the two respective communities.

In his discourse to the religious women, His Holiness brought attention to three tenets that form the crux of their meditative calling: meekness, supplication, and devotion.

The gathering spanned approximately thirty minutes and was brought to a close with the collective recitation of the Lord's Prayer, after which Pope Leo bestowed his Apostolic Benediction upon the contemplative Carmelite sisters.



 Key Information About Lebanon

Here is some foundational information regarding the Republic of Lebanon:

  • Population: The estimated population of Lebanon is generally considered to be around 5.3 million people (as of 2023), though figures can be complex due to refugee populations and migratory patterns.

  • Official Language: The official language is Arabic (modern standard).

  • Other Spoken Languages: Lebanese (Levantine Arabic is widely used) French is well known, particularly in government, banking, and education, due to historical ties. English is also increasingly common, especially among younger generations. Armenian and Kurdish are spoken by their respective communities.

  • History of Religions: Lebanon has a unique and intricate history of religious coexistence and conflict, making it one of the most religiously diverse countries in the Middle East. The main religious groups are:

    • Islam: Primarily divided into Shia and Sunni branches, with smaller Alawite and Isma'ili communities.

    • Christianity: Comprises numerous denominations, the largest being the Maronite Church (an Eastern Catholic Church sui iuris in full communion with the Pope), followed by the Greek Orthodox Church and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. There are also Armenian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, and various Protestant communities.

    • Druze: While often classified separately, the Druze are a monotheistic ethnoreligious group that split from Isma'ili Islam in the 11th century.

  • Bordering Countries: Lebanon shares land borders with two nations:

    • Syria (to the north and east)

    • Israel (to the south)

  • Catholic Population: The number of Catholics in Lebanon is significant. The largest Catholic group by far is the Maronite Church. Estimates of the total Christian population (Maronite, Greek Catholic, Latin, etc.) nearly 40% of the total population, with Catholics making up the vast majority of this Christian bloc. The Maronite population alone is estimated to be over 1.5 million, making them the largest Christian group and one of the largest single religious communities in the country.

  • Images from Vatican Media

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