Pope Leo XIV concluded his three-day visit to Lebanon with a poignant silent prayer at the site of the devastating Beirut port explosion. This tragic event, which occurred on August 4, 2020, resulted in the loss of 218 lives and left a significant portion of the capital in ruins. During his visit, the Pope met with relatives of the victims, echoing their calls for justice and accountability.
Pope’s emotional tribute at the port
In a heartfelt statement after visiting the port, the Pope expressed that he was “deeply moved” by the experience. He recognized the “thirst for truth and justice” shared by many families affected by the disaster. The explosion was triggered when a fire ignited 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored in a port warehouse for nearly six years. Despite the evident negligence, no individuals have been held accountable for this national tragedy.
It is widely believed that many in positions of power were aware of the hazardous materials stored at the port and the risks involved but failed to act. Families of the victims and advocacy groups assert that the investigation into the disaster has been obstructed by political leaders attempting to protect those responsible.
Cecile Roukoz, who lost her brother Joseph in the explosion, conveyed the significance of the Pope’s visit to the memorial, stating, “We know that he raises his voice for justice, and we need justice for our brothers and all the victims of this explosion.”
A call for unity and recovery
Another grieving family member, Tatiana Hasrouty, shared her thoughts, saying, “He’s trying to help us find the truth in some sort of way, in his way, maybe in praying and maybe in just looking at us… We, the families, now, after five years, we need people to look at us.”
Following his prayer at the blast site, the Pope celebrated the final Mass of his visit, attended by approximately 150,000 people at the Beirut waterfront. In his address, he lamented the overshadowing of Lebanon’s beauty by widespread poverty and suffering, emphasizing the need for the country’s diverse communities to come together to address their challenges.
“Let us cast off the armour of our ethnic and political divisions, open our religious confessions to mutual encounter and reawaken in our hearts the dream of a united Lebanon,” he urged, envisioning a nation where peace and justice could prevail.
Lebanon has faced multiple crises since the last papal visit in 2012, including one of the worst economic depressions in its history, which has plunged millions into poverty. This economic turmoil has been exacerbated by mass anti-government protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the aforementioned port explosion.
Political deadlock has hindered necessary economic and structural reforms that foreign donors have linked to vital aid packages. Additionally, Lebanon recently endured a 13-month conflict involving the Shia Muslim Hezbollah group and Israel, resulting in thousands of casualties. Although a ceasefire was established a year ago, tensions continue as Israel targets locations it believes are associated with Hezbollah’s military capabilities.