Shafaqna English- “ Lebanon is and must remain a project for peace,” the Pope said during a meeting at the Vatican with the families of victims of the 2020 devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut.
Greeting the 30-member delegation in the Consistory Hall on Monday (26 Aug 2024), Pope Francis conveyed his closeness to the Lebanese families, saying that he continues to pray for them and shares in their grief.
In his address Pope Francis expressed his support to the Lebanese families in their ongoing quest for truth and justice which, as he acknowledged, continues to be obstructed by “opposing powers and interests.” “The Lebanese people, and you above all, have a right to words and actions that manifest responsibility and transparency,” he said.
The Pope also reflected on the broader suffering in the region with the ongoing war in Gaza dangerously close to a full-out regional war, reiterating that war is a failure of politics and humanity.
He once again implored peace in the Middle East, stressing Lebanon’s unique role as a land of diverse communities living together in harmony “where different religions and confessions encounter one another in a spirit of fraternity.” “Lebanon is, and must remain, a project for peace,” the Pope stressed.