BEIRUT – In a profound gesture of solidarity, Pope Leo XIV concluded his inaugural international pilgrimage with a massive outdoor mass attended by approximately 150,000 congregants on Beirut’s waterfront Tuesday. The spiritual gathering marked the culmination of a three-day visit to Lebanon, a nation grappling with multifaceted crises.
The pontiff’s itinerary included a solemn visit to the Beirut port explosion site, where he offered silent prayers and met with relatives of victims still seeking justice for the August 4, 2020 catastrophe that killed over 220 people. The disaster, one of history’s largest non-nuclear explosions, resulted from improperly stored ammonium nitrate that authorities had repeatedly warned about.
Earlier in his visit, the Pope received an enthusiastic reception from thousands of Lebanese youth at Bkerke, headquarters of the Maronite Church. He implored the young generation to harness their enthusiasm to ‘change the course of history’ and build ‘a new future’ for their beleaguered nation.
The visit provided a temporary respite for citizens like Yasmine Chidiac, who noted the papal visit ‘has brought a smile back to our faces.’ Many Lebanese remain traumatized by recent conflicts with Israel and fear renewed hostilities, making the spiritual leader’s message of hope particularly significant.
Security measures intensified throughout the capital, with authorities establishing checkpoints and restricting access to central Beirut areas where papal events were held. The Pope also visited a psychiatric hospital operated by nuns and convened an interreligious meeting with Christian and Muslim leaders, urging collective action against intolerance and violence.