His Holiness Pope Francis renews prayers for victims of Beirut port explosion

Three-year anniversary of the Beirut port explosion 

His Holiness Pope Francis renews his Prayers for the victims of the devastating port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, just days before the three-year anniversary of the disaster. The Pope also prays that the nation may also overcome its current crisis.

By Thaddeus Jones

Speaking at the conclusion of Sunday's Angelus, His Holiness Pope Francis renewed his prayers for the people of Lebanon who are still recovering after a devastating explosion at the port of Beirut that took place almost three years ago on 4 August 2020. 

“I renew my prayer for the victims and their families, who are seeking truth and justice, and I hope that Lebanon’s complex crisis may find a solution worthy of the history and values of that people. Let us not forget that Lebanon is also a message.”

Correspondent Nathan Morley gives us more context in this report.

This week marks three years since a huge explosion ripped through the Lebanese capital of Beirut, leaving a trail of devastation. In the coming days, several memorial services will take place in Lebanon to pay tribute to the 218 people that died in the disaster.

The blast on 4 August 2020 was caused when nearly 3,000 tones of ammonium nitrate ignited and tore through Beirut Port leaving a trail of devastation.

The chemical which caused the explosion was used in fertilisers and had been sitting in storage for years without any apparent safety measures.

After years of evaluations, the blast is estimated to have caused up to $15 billion in damage as well as leaving 5,000 injured and 300,000 homeless…

This news was originally published on the Vatican News website. Please click here to read the full text and listen to the report.