What is the significance of the three religious shrines visited by Pope Leo XIV in Lebanon?

With Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon, attention is focused on the three main religious shrines that form the official stops of his trip: the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya where Saint Charbel is buried, and the Monastery of the Cross in Jal El Dib which houses the tomb of Blessed Father Yacoub.

These sites are not just religious destinations; they are part of a vast spiritual, social, and economic network in Lebanon, and they reflect different paths to holiness in a country of diverse sects and religious identities.

Religious tourism researcher Nour El-Farah Haddad told BBC Arabic that the three shrines included in the pope’s visit “are known for their miraculous reputation and are frequented by the faithful as places where people feel their prayers are answered.”