Pope Leo XIV concluded his first international visit with a moment of silence in front of the ruins of the explosion in Beirut, paying tribute to the victims.

Pope Leo XIV concluded his first international visit on Tuesday with a moment of reflection at the site of the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut, which occurred on August 4, 2020, resulting in 218 deaths. The Pontiff was greeted by the relatives of the victims, who brought photographs of those lost. During the visit, the Pope walked among the affected families, shaking their hands and offering words of encouragement, while remnants of the destruction surrounded him. Five years after the tragedy, families continue to seek justice, in the context of a stalled judicial investigation and the impunity of officials, which intensifies the frustration of the Lebanese population, affected by corruption and financial collapse. Cecile Roukoz, a relative of a victim, emphasized that the Pope's visit sends a clear message that the explosion was a crime.