Pope Leo XIV visited the site of the devastating Beirut port explosion, where 218 people were killed in one of the worst maritime disasters in history. The Pope prayed silently at the memorial, calling for justice and truth to be uncovered.
The tragedy occurred on August 4, 2020, when a fire triggered the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely at a port warehouse for almost six years. The blast devastated a large part of Beirut's capital city, causing widespread destruction and chaos.
Five years on, many questions remain unanswered, and no-one has yet been held accountable for the disaster. Relatives of the victims say they need justice and accountability to move forward with their lives.
During his visit, Pope Leo XIV also met with some of the relatives of the victims, including Cecile Roukoz, whose brother Joseph was killed in the blast. Roukoz said that the Pope's visit was "very important" and that he raises his voice for justice. Another relative, Tatiana Hasrouty, who lost her father Ghassan in the blast, expressed gratitude for the Pope's efforts to help find the truth.
The Pope also used his visit to call for unity and peace in Lebanon. He lamented that the country's beauty had been overshadowed by poverty and suffering and appealed to its diverse communities to come together to solve their problems.
The tragedy occurred on August 4, 2020, when a fire triggered the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely at a port warehouse for almost six years. The blast devastated a large part of Beirut's capital city, causing widespread destruction and chaos.
Five years on, many questions remain unanswered, and no-one has yet been held accountable for the disaster. Relatives of the victims say they need justice and accountability to move forward with their lives.
During his visit, Pope Leo XIV also met with some of the relatives of the victims, including Cecile Roukoz, whose brother Joseph was killed in the blast. Roukoz said that the Pope's visit was "very important" and that he raises his voice for justice. Another relative, Tatiana Hasrouty, who lost her father Ghassan in the blast, expressed gratitude for the Pope's efforts to help find the truth.
The Pope also used his visit to call for unity and peace in Lebanon. He lamented that the country's beauty had been overshadowed by poverty and suffering and appealed to its diverse communities to come together to solve their problems.
. Don't get me wrong, it's good that Pope Leo XIV is showing support for the victims' families, but can we just focus on some actual progress here? It's been 5 years and no one has faced justice for this disaster? That's just unacceptable. I mean, I'm all for unity and peace in Lebanon, but let's not sugarcoat it – there needs to be consequences for those responsible. The fact that he met with relatives of the victims is great, but what about concrete actions being taken? It feels like a PR stunt rather than actual change 
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! i cant even imagine him praying silently at the memorial site of that tragic explosion... it gives me chills just thinking about it 
. but seriously, 5 years on and no one's held accountable? its like, what even is justice if we can't get closure for those families? 
. im all for unity and peace in lebanon, but how do they plan to achieve that when they're still dealing with the aftermath of this blast? 
. pope leo xiv is def doing something right tho 
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. It's just not right that people are still living with uncertainty and no closure, especially when it comes to the families of those who lost their loved ones. The fact that Pope Leo XIV is doing his part to bring attention to this issue is definitely a step in the right direction 
. But I think we need more than just a visit from someone in power to really make a change happen. We need systemic changes and concrete actions taken by governments and corporations to prevent such disasters from happening in the first place 
. It's time for us to hold people accountable and demand justice for those who were affected by this tragedy 
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. It’s like the investigation just kinda... stalled out? And now Pope Leo XIV is over there, praying and calling for justice, but I wish they were doing more to pressure whoever made this happen to take responsibility 
. It's not just about the victims' families needing closure, it's also about making sure that something like this never happens again 
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. Can't believe it's been 5 years since that massive explosion happened. I mean, 218 people lost their lives... 
. The Pope's visit was a good step, though. At least he's speaking up for those who can't speak for themselves. But, like, we need more than just prayers and wishes... we need concrete actions 
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The fact that no one's held accountable after five years is crazy. It's like, what's the point of having leaders if they can't take care of their own citizens? 
. We need to support the families of the victims and help them find closure 
. The Pope's visit is a reminder that even in difficult times, there are still good people doing good things 
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. but what's even more frustrating is how many questions are still left unanswered 
lebanon deserves all the positivity & love right now 
it's not just about the victims' families needing justice, it's about holding those responsible for the disaster to account too 
and it's crazy that the Pope is basically saying they need to put aside their differences and come together for peace 
but what if we're already living in a society where poverty and suffering are just, like, normal 
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. Relatives of the victims are still waiting for justice 
. Pope Leo XIV's visit was a good start 
. Lebanon needs unity and peace now 
. Poverty and suffering are suffocating its beauty 
. We need truth and accountability more than ever 
. The Pope is doing his part, but we can't just sit back 
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I feel really sad thinking about all those people who lost their lives in Beirut port explosion 
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. But let's not forget, words alone aren't enough; real action needs to follow for meaningful change to happen 
it's just a shame all this negativity overshadowed it for so long... but hey, if anyone can bring people together, it's the Pope 
. It's not just about finding answers, it's also about making sure someone gets held accountable for their negligence. The whole thing is still so frustrating