Pope Leo XIV prays in silence at the site of the 2020 port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: AIGAV Pool
Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 2, 2025 / 03:15 am (CNA).
PopeLeoXIVpausedonthefinalmorningofhistriptoLebanonbeforetheruinsoftheBeirutportexplosion,prayinginsilenceandplacingawreathinmemoryofthevictims.Healsometfamiliesofthosekilledandsurvivorsstillcarryingthewoundsofthe2020blast.
Thepopelitacandleandlaiddownawreathofredflowersatthesiteandseemedatonepointtoholdbacktears.Afterward,hespokewithfamilymembersofvictims,someofwhomwhowereholdingphotographsoftheirrelativeskilledintheblast.
Thepope’ssilentprayerattheportunfoldedagainstanunresolvedsearchforjustice,agriefstillfeltacrossLebanon.
FiveyearsaftertheAug.4,2020,explosion,oneofthelargestnonnuclearblastsinhistory,familiesofthe236peoplekilledandmorethan7,000woundedsaytheyarestillwaitingfortruthandaccountability.VastneighborhoodsofBeirutwereshattered,yetjusticeremainselusive.LebanesePrimeMinisterNawafSalamgreetedthepopeatthesite.
Lebanon’sinvestigationhasb
