Pope Leo XIV Prays at Beirut Port Blast Site on Lebanon Visit
Pope Leo XIV Prays at Beirut Port Blast Site on Lebanon Visit
Pope Leo XIV ends his Lebanon trip with a silent prayer at the Beirut port blast site, urging leaders to pursue truth for peace and meeting families of victims.
Beirut — On the final day of his Lebanon visit, Pope Leo XIV walked quietly to the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and offered a silent prayer beside the ruined warehouses along the waterfront. The blast, which involved hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate, killed 218 people, caused billions in damage, and left families and the country mired in a decades-long crisis.
Many Lebanese are hungry for accountability as investigations have stalled and no official has been convicted. The pope arrived on Sunday and used his platform to urge Lebanon’s political leaders to pursue the truth as a path to peace and reconciliation, a message repeated in private meetings with families of victims.
His day began at De La Croix hospital, a facility known for its care of people facing mental health challenges, where he met caregivers and patients before planning a Mass along the Beirut waterfront to close his visit and return to Rome.
On Monday, he presided over a gathering of Lebanon’s Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders, celebrating interfaith coexistence as a powerful symbol of peace amid broader regional turmoil.
Observers say the visit is a beacon for a wary nation, offering spiritual support to a population grappling with economic collapse, political paralysis, and ongoing regional tensions. The pope’s call for truth and unity underscored a broader hope that reconciliation could pave the way for reconstruction and lasting stability.
Cover image source: Pope in Lebanon prays for peace at tomb of saint revered by Christians and Muslims alike 🔗
