The second day of Pope Leo's visit to Lebanon took him to the shrine of Our Lady of Harissa. It was an emotional encounter.
Priests, religious, and seminarians from all over Lebanon were there to greet him.
The Pope spoke to them about the symbol that illustrates his first apostolic journey, the anchor.
PAPA LEÓN XIV
One of the symbols that appears in the ‘logo’ of this trip is the anchor. Pope Francis often evoked it in his speeches as a sign of faith, which allows us to go ever further, even in the darkest moments, all the way to Heaven. He said: ‘Our faith is the anchor in Heaven. Our life is anchored in Heaven. What must we do? Hold on to the rope […]. And we move forward because we are certain that our life has an anchor in Heaven, on that shore we will reach.
Young seminarians and religious men and women in formation filled the audience. That's why the Pope chose to focus on the vital role that young people play in the Church.
PAPA LEÓN XIV
“In this regard, I am thinking of the responsibility we all have toward young people. It is important to encourage their presence, including within church structures, appreciating the newness they bring and giving them space. And it is necessary, even amid the rubble of a world marked by painful failures, to offer them concrete and viable prospects of rebirth and growth for the future.
Pope Leo used the occasion to emphasize the importance of education for young people, especially now.
At the end of the encounter, the Pope presented a Golden Rose to the Virgin of Harissa. This is a time honored tradition that Popes observe when they visit Marian shrines. Pope Leo clearly wanted to honor this tradition.
