Pope Leo XIV visited the Carmelite Sisters of the Theotokos in Harissa, Lebanon. The Pope greeted each sister individually and received greetings from the superiors. He spoke to the nuns about humility, prayer, and sacrifice. The visit concluded with the recitation of the Our Father and the Pope's Apostolic Blessing.
13 days ago
Pope Leo XIV's first apostolic journey included visits to religious communities in Lebanon from November 30 to December 2, 2025, highlighting the Church's commitment to contemplation and care for the vulnerable amid the country's economic and social crises.1 2
These stops emphasized themes of mercy, humility, and solidarity, reflecting the Pope's exhortation Dilexi Te on love for the poor.2 3
On November 30, 2025, Pope Leo XIV made a 30-minute evening visit to the Monastery of the Carmelite Sisters of the Theotokos in Harissa after meeting civil authorities.1
He greeted each sister individually and addressed them on the core elements of their contemplative vocation: humility, prayer, and sacrifice.1
The encounter ended with the recitation of the Our Father and the Pope's Apostolic Blessing, underscoring spiritual renewal for the nuns.1
The Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, who manage the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross in Jal El Dib, described Pope Leo's planned December 2 visit as "a miracle" from their founder, Blessed Jacques Haddad.2
Founded in 1930, the congregation runs 23 institutions focused on the disabled, elderly, and orphans, embodying works of mercy despite Lebanon's 2019 economic crisis and COVID-19 challenges.2
Sister Mary Youssef highlighted the hospital's role as a "small village" for 800 patients, including abandoned individuals, with over 40 sisters providing care regardless of religion.2
The visit was seen as a blessing that renews the sisters' mission and advances Haddad's canonization cause, with patients eagerly preparing in joy.2
On December 2, 2025, Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Hospital of the Cross, one of the Middle East's largest psychiatric facilities with capacity for 1,000, founded by Haddad in 1919 and converted for mental disabilities in 1951.3 4
Greeted by jubilant crowds and costumed children, the Pope visited the Saint-Dominique Pavilion for children with severe disabilities, meeting patients unable to travel.3 5
He expressed emotional closeness, stating, "I wanted to come because Jesus dwells in this place: in you who are ill, and in you who care for the ailing," assuring prayers for all.3 4 5
Pope Leo honored Blessed Jacques Haddad as a "tireless apostle of charity" whose holiness shone through love for the poorest, crediting the Franciscan Sisters and staff as signs of Christ's mercy.3 4 6
Comparing their work to the Good Samaritan, he urged perseverance amid fatigue and Lebanon's hardships, encouraging focus on the good accomplished, which is "great in God’s eyes."3 4 5
Mother Marie Makhlouf, the superior, tearfully called the mission a "daily miracle" sustained through crises like explosions and institutional collapse, now serving over 2,200 annually free of charge when needed.2 5
The Pope issued a broader appeal to Lebanon and the world, warning against societies that prioritize false wellbeing while ignoring poverty and vulnerability.3 4 6
He stressed that Christians must center the poor, as the Gospel demands response to their cry, seeing Christ's suffering in the wounded faces of the innocent.3 5
This visit, amid Lebanon's conflicts and economic woes, served as a reminder for the human family to remember the most fragile, with the Pope entrusting patients to God's tender care.4 5 6
The hospital's work, reliant on donations due to lost government funding estimated at $148 million, exemplifies resilience, with calls for support in medicine, food, and essentials.5
Pope Leo's messages fostered hope, aligning with his motto "in the one Christ we are one," and reinforced interfaith harmony after meetings with Muslim leaders.5
As the journey concluded with Mass on Beirut's waterfront, the visits highlighted the Church's proximity to the suffering, inspiring renewed commitment to mercy in crisis.3 5
How does Catholic doctrine shape care for the sick in religious communities?
Catholic doctrine profoundly shapes the care for the sick within religious communities, viewing it not merely as a humanitarian duty but as an essential expression of the Church's mission, an imitation of Christ's own compassion, and a fundamental aspect of fraternal life and spiritual apostolate. This dedication to the sick is rooted in the very identity of the Church and the specific vocation of consecrated persons.
The Catholic approach to health care and the sick is grounded in the person of Jesus Christ, who is recognized as the "Physician of the body and the spirit" . Christ's compassion for the sick and his many acts of healing serve as a "resplendent sign" that God has visited his people and that the Kingdom of God is near . Jesus came to heal the whole person—soul and body—and identified himself with those who suffer, declaring, "I was sick and you visited me" (Mt 25:36) .
This preferential love for the sick is the source of the tireless efforts by Christians to comfort them . For religious communities, caring for the sick is a direct way to "touch the suffering flesh of Christ" and fulfill the deepest vocation of love for the Lord where he is most disfigured [12†L3-L5, L24-L26]. This commitment is concrete, revealing that salvation is not an abstract idea, but an action that begins among the most vulnerable .
For religious orders, the care of the sick is woven into the fabric of their community life and mission.
Authority figures within religious communities are specifically charged with pastoral care, which includes the duty to "solicitously to care for and visit the sick" among their members [7†L1-L2, L9-L10]. This obligation of charity and gratitude extends particularly to the elderly and infirm members of the community. Their care is not only a clear obligation but also an acknowledgment that the witness of the elderly and sick serves the Church and their Institutes greatly, as their mission continues through prayer and patient acceptance of their condition . Even in the early stages of monasticism, figures like Saint Basil the Great saw hospitality and care for the needy as an integral part of monastic spirituality, requiring monks to help the poorest through their work .
The Church's solicitude for the sick is channeled through dedicated institutions and apostolates. The Holy See established a dedicated body—the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers—to show the Church's solicitude for the sick and help those who serve them, ensuring their "apostolate of mercy may ever more effectively respond to people’s needs" .
Historically, this mission has been embodied by numerous religious orders:
This legacy continues today in Catholic hospitals, clinics, and shelters, where the Christian presence reveals that the Kingdom of God is manifested in the healing of wounds and the care of the vulnerable . Religious Institutes engaged in health care are encouraged to persevere and to give "explicit attention to the specifically Catholic dimension of their activities," ensuring that care is provided "for the sake of Christ" and according to Catholic moral and ethical principles .
Catholic doctrine mandates that the spiritual needs of the sick be met, especially through the sacraments, which are sources of strength and hope amid suffering .
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is the primary sacramental expression of the Church's care. It is founded on the teaching of the Apostle James: "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (Jas 5:14-15) .
Through this sacrament, the whole Church commends the ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, uniting the sick person to the Passion and death of Christ, thereby enabling them to "contribute to the good of the People of God" .
The effects of the special grace of this sacrament are:
Pope Benedict XVI emphasized the "covenant of evangelical 'complicity'" between the sick and priests, where the sick "call" for the priests who must respond to draw the presence of the Risen One into the experience of illness. This pastoral care is of "incalculable" value, as it benefits the sick, the priest, the community, and the entire Church and world .
For those who are dying, the Church stresses the necessity of receiving the sacraments that prepare them "to meet the living God" . This includes the Sacrament of Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and most importantly, Viaticum (Holy Communion received as passage to eternal life). Relatives and caregivers, including members of religious communities, must ensure the dying receive these sacraments at the proper time .
Catholic doctrine requires that care for the sick embrace the "physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of the human person" . Pastoral care is considered an integral part of Catholic health care, especially since "Without health of the spirit, high technology focused strictly on the body offers limited hope for healing the whole person" .
This pastoral care encompasses a full range of spiritual services, including:
In contemporary society, where suffering is often dismissed, the care of the sick is a priority . Catholic health care personnel, including religious sisters, brothers, and priests, are called to offer patients spiritual support through the warmth of authentic human contact, supporting them in their demanding vocation in the service of the sick .
In summary, Catholic doctrine mandates that religious communities and Catholic institutions approach care for the sick with a holistic vision, integrating medical expertise with profound pastoral care and sacramental support. This care is an active participation in Christ's healing ministry, transforming suffering into a means of grace and strengthening the sick person as an active participant in the Church's work of evangelization and salvation .