Pope prays at site of 2020 Beirut port explosion

"Pope Leo XIV has prayed at the site of the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion and offered words of consolation to the Lebanese people on the final day of his first overseas trip. Relatives of some of the 218 people killed in the blast five years ago held up photographs of loved ones as Pope Leo arrived on Tuesday at the scorched site. They then stood side by side as he spoke to each one and looked at the images."

"The emotional encounter took place beside the shell of the last grain silo standing at the site destroyed by the August 4 blast, and amid piles of burned cars left charred in its wake. The explosion caused billions of dollars' worth of damage when hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate detonated in a warehouse. Five years on, families are still seeking justice. No official has been convicted in the judicial investigation, angering Lebanese citizens who see the blast as further evidence of impunity after decades of corruption and financial crimes."

"The Mother Superior of the congregation that runs the hospital, Mother Marie Makhlouf, was overcome as she welcomed the pope, telling him that her hospital cares for the forgotten souls, burdened by their loneliness. Pope Leo said the facility stands as a reminder to all of humanity. We cannot forget those who are most fragile, he said. We cannot conceive of a society that races ahead at full speed, clinging to the false myths of wellbeing, while at the same time ignoring so many situations of poverty and vulnerability."

Pope Leo XIV visited the 2020 Beirut port explosion site, prayed, and consoled relatives of some of the 218 victims while viewing photographs beside the last standing grain silo and charred remains. The blast detonated hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate in a warehouse, causing billions of dollars in damage. Five years later no official has been convicted, fueling anger over perceived impunity amid decades of corruption and financial crimes. The pope urged Lebanon's political leaders to pursue truth to achieve peace and reconciliation. He also visited De La Croix Hospital, emphasizing care for the fragile and warning against ignoring poverty and vulnerability.

Read at www.aljazeera.com