Pope Leo XIV began the third and final day of his visit to Lebanon at Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, which he reached at 8:40 a.m. Thousands of people from the educational, scouting, and medical institutions of the congregation had gathered in the monastery courtyard to welcome the Pope and receive his blessing, raising papal and Lebanese flags to the sound of cheers and welcoming hymns.

At the entrance of the monastery, the Pope was received by the Superior General of the Sisters of the Cross, Mother Marie Makhlouf, along with the nuns. He then proceeded to listen to a special hymn for the occasion, performed by the “Choir of the Relics of Father Yaacoub,” composed of hospital patients, titled “Amalna (Our Hope)”, with lyrics by poet Nizar Francis, music and arrangement by Maestro Elie Alia, and mixing/mastering by Elie Fakih.

Lebanon’s First Lady, Mrs. Nehmat Aoun, attended the gathering, along with patients, nuns, and members of the medical and administrative staff.

Mother Marie Makhlouf’s Speech
The Superior General of the Sisters of the Cross, Mother Marie Makhlouf, delivered a speech in which she welcomed Pope Leo XIV and said:

“Welcome to the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, a hospital that does not choose its patients, but embraces with love those whom no one has chosen. Here, there are forgotten people, hurt by their loneliness. They are faces that do not appear in the media, nor on podiums. Here you are, visiting us, affirming to the little brothers of Jesus, the poorest of the poor, and the most miserable, that they are loved by God and that they have a precious place in His heart and in yours.
“You have raised for the world an evangelical motto: Blessed are the Peacemakers. Today, we tell you that peace is born when the hand of the Church holds the hand of a human being who does not even know how to pronounce his own name. We thank you for visiting our hospital, which tells the world that these forgotten people are not a burden on society, but the treasure of the Church.

“We thank you, for your visit confirms that the Divine Providence our founder, Blessed Father Yaacoub, trusted has never left us, and continues to give us strength and faith. Our mission is a daily miracle, as witnessed by those who have lived through it. How can a poor institution that owns nothing remain steadfast despite the horrors of the explosion, hunger, pandemic, and collapse of state institutions? How do we continue without support, and yet open our doors wider whenever the world closes its doors to those who knock? Science has no explanation, nor does the economy, nor human logic. Heaven alone knows the answer. It is the great miracle of our Father Yaacoub. We live on ‘the widow’s mite,’ yet we lack nothing. God transforms what benefactors send us into an overflow of love, just as Christ multiplied the five loaves and two fish, and the miracle is repeated, and the hungry are satisfied.

“We pray with you that the hour may come when Lebanon, the faithful around the world, and the daughters of Father Yaacoub will rejoice in the celebration of his canonization at the altars of the Church, so that he may be a shining model of love for the poor, their intercessor, and a genuine face of coexistence; he who welcomed the suffering and founded institutions for them. He was truly a ‘nation in one man’ and a living icon of human dignity when he said: ‘My sect is Lebanon and the suffering.’

“Thank you, Your Holiness, for being a father to the forgotten, the abandoned, and the marginalized. Be assured that we, our patients, our students, and all those with whom we work, carry you in our prayers and plead with Mary, our Mother, and in the words of Your Holiness: ‘Teach us to stand with you at the countless crosses, where your Son is still crucified.’”
The Pope’s Speech

Pope Leo XIV then delivered a speech:
“Thank you for your warm welcome. I am happy to meet you. It was my wish to be here, where Jesus dwells in the patients, and in you who care for them: the nuns, the doctors, and all those who work in healthcare and administration. 
“I would first like to greet you affectionately and assure you that you are in my heart and prayers. Thank you for the beautiful hymn you performed. Thank you to the choir and to those who composed it. It is a message of hope.

“This hospital was founded by the Blessed Father Yaacoub, the apostle of charity, who never grew tired. We remember the holiness of his life, manifested especially by his love for the poor and the suffering. The Sisters of the Cross continue the work he founded, and they carry out a precious service. Thank you, dear sisters, for the mission you undertake with joy and dedication.

“I would also like to warmly greet and thank the hospital staff. Your professional presence and your care for the patients are a tangible sign of Christ’s love and compassion. You are like the Good Samaritan who stopped at the wounded man and cared for him, helping him and healing him. At times, you may feel tired and discouraged, especially given the difficult circumstances in which you work. I encourage you not to lose the joy of this mission. Despite the challenges, keep before your eyes the good that you can accomplish. It is a great work in the eyes of God.

“What we witness in this place is a lesson for everyone, for your land, and even for all humanity. We cannot forget the weak, nor imagine a society racing at full speed, attached to illusions of excessive comfort while ignoring countless situations of poverty and fragility.

“As Christians, the Church of the Lord Jesus, we are especially called to care for the poor. The Gospel itself asks this of us. Let us not forget that the cry of the poor, echoed in Scripture, speaks to us. On the faces of the suffering poor, we see reflected the suffering of the innocent and, in a mysterious way, the suffering of Christ Himself.

“As for you, dear brothers and sisters who have been tested by illness, I only want to tell you that you are in the heart of God our Father. He holds you in His hands, accompanies you with His love, and envelops you with tenderness through the hands and smiles of those who care for you. To each one of you, Jesus says today: I love you. I want all that is good for you. You are My child. Never forget that. Thank you all. God be with you.”

After his speech, the Pope offered a short prayer, then received from Mother Makhlouf an icon of Saint Jacob and other commemorative gifts. He then left the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross heading toward the Notre-Dame Wing, where he met with children in the “Saint Dominic” building away from the media, and from there proceeded to the port, to the sound of the special hymn for the occasion.

Hymn “Amalna” (Our Hope)

As for the hymn “Amalna,” composed for the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, it is written by poet Nizar Francis, with music and arrangement by Maestro Elie Alia, and mixing/mastering by Elie Fakih.

Lyrics:
Blessings have come down upon us all,

And we gathered here to welcome you.

Despite illness, God remains

Living within us, present among us.

Raise Your hand… grant us grace.

We want to pray… to erase the darkness.
O Pope, we have a message,

And our hope is that you hear us.

You, who has come to bless our gathering,

And show us great love in your prayers,

Your presence has made our joy

Reach the Heavens we adore so deeply.

This is what our Father Yaacoub taught us,

Our spiritual guide.

A candle lit in the darkness,

So the darkness turns to light.

The greatest miracle in the world

Is that we remain despite wars,

And that we are still here today

By the grace of the Creator and the Crucified.

And our Father Yaacoub united us,

So today we ask:

O Pope, pray and help us,

So that our Father Yaacoub may be declared a saint.