Pope Concludes Lebanon Visit with Call for Unity and Justice at Blast Site

Pope Leo XIV concluded his first international trip on Sunday with a powerful message of unity and a solemn visit to the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion. The three-day visit to Lebanon focused on encouraging the crisis-stricken nation and supporting its Christian community.

The pontiff's final day centered on a prayer at the port, where a massive blast killed more than 200 people and devastated large parts of the capital [16845][17099]. He observed a moment of silence and met privately with victims' families [17009][17106].

"Truth and justice are essential," the Pope stated at the site, demanding a transparent and complete investigation into the disaster [17106][17099]. The official probe has faced years of delays, and his remarks added significant international pressure for accountability [17099].

Earlier, the Pope presided over a Mass for tens of thousands of people along the Beirut waterfront, urging national reconciliation [16806][17049]. He repeatedly called on Lebanon's diverse religious and political groups to set aside differences and work together to solve the country's severe economic and political crises [16260][16853].

"Lebanon proves that fear, distrust and prejudice do not have the final word," he told a crowd in Beirut's historic Martyrs' Square, a location that once divided the city during its civil war [16853]. His itinerary emphasized dialogue as the path to stability [16260][16856].

The visit aimed to offer hope to a nation in deep turmoil and to strengthen one of the Middle East's most significant Christian communities [15515][16806]. Pope Leo XIV also issued a broader appeal for peace across the conflict-torn region [16514][16970].