By: The Trek News Desk
Pope Leo XIV ended his three-day visit to Lebanon on Tuesday with a solemn prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, a disaster that claimed more than 220 lives and injured over 6,500 people.
Silent Tribute, Lamp Lighting, and Meeting with Survivors
At the memorial overlooking the wrecked port, the U.S.-born pontiff observed a moment of silence, lit a ceremonial lamp, and met privately with survivors and families of the victims.
Standing amid rubble and the remains of the shattered port, he greeted each family personally, offering blessings and words of comfort.
One relative of a victim said, “We are deeply grateful for the Pope’s presence. He speaks for justice, and justice is exactly what we need.”
A Message to Leaders: ‘Seek the Path of Truth’
Upon arriving in Lebanon on Sunday, Pope Leo urged the nation’s political leadership to abandon delays and commit to truth-seeking as the foundation for peace and reconciliation.
‘Tear Down Ethnic and Political Walls’
Later, nearly 150,000 people gathered at Beirut’s waterfront for an outdoor Mass marking the final major event of his visit.
Pope Leo appealed for unity, saying, “Let us work together to restore the dignity of this land. It is time to remove the armour of our ethnic and political divisions.”
He envisioned a Lebanon where peace and justice prevail, a nation where all see each other as brothers and sisters.
Attendance, however, was significantly lower than the estimated 300,000 who joined Pope Benedict XVI’s 2012 Mass at the same location. Analysts say the decline reflects the large-scale exodus of Lebanese citizens, including many Christians, driven by years of economic collapse, corruption, and sectarian tensions.
A Broader Appeal for Middle East Peace
Lebanon was the second stop on Pope Leo’s first international tour, which began in Türkiye. Throughout the trip, he called for an end to conflicts across the Middle East and warned that humanity’s future is threatened by escalating global violence.
“If bloodshed continues, humanity risks losing its way,” he said.
“Peace remains the only path forward.”
Source: News Agencies
