Pope Leo Ends Lebanon Visit with a Solemn Prayer at Beirut Port Blast Site
BEIRUT — Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Lebanon on Tuesday with a moment of silent prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, a gesture of solidarity with a nation still grieving and seeking justice.
The pontiff stood amid the scarred landscape where, five years ago, hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate detonated, killing 218 people, injuring thousands, and causing billions of dollars in damage. He later met privately with families of the victims, many of whom continue to demand accountability in a stalled investigation that has yet to hold any official responsible.
“No official has been convicted,” noted one Beirut resident, reflecting widespread frustration over judicial delays and political obstruction. For many Lebanese, the blast remains a painful symbol of systemic corruption and governance failures that have deepened the country’s prolonged economic and social crises.
Earlier in his four-day visit, Pope Leo urged Lebanon’s leaders to “pursue the truth as a means of peace and reconciliation.” He also presided over a gathering of Christian and Muslim religious leaders, praising Lebanon’s tradition of interfaith coexistence as “a potent message of peace” in a troubled region.
On his final day, the Pope began with a visit to the De La Croix Hospital, which specializes in psychological care, before moving to the port blast memorial. He is scheduled to close his trip with a public Mass along the Beirut waterfront before returning to Rome.
Through prayers, private meetings, and public appeals, Pope Leo’s visit sought to offer spiritual comfort and a call for renewal to a country yearning for both healing and justice.
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