Lebanon is a nation mourning after an explosion in the Port of Beirut on Tuesday killed at least one hundred people, left many more injured or trapped under rubble, and leveled large parts of the city.
During his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis prayed for Lebanon in the aftermath of the explosion, saying
“Yesterday in Beirut, near the port, there were massive explosions causing dozens of deaths, wounding thousands and causing serious destruction.”
Pope Francis also called for all to join him and pray for Lebanon and all affected together.
“Let us pray for the victims, for their families; and let us pray for Lebanon so that, through the dedication of all its social, political and religious elements, it might face this extremely tragic and painful moment and, with the help of the international community, overcome the grave crisis they are experiencing.”
In the aftermath of the explosion, local authorities have said the explosion was caused by many tons of ammonium nitrate improperly stored in a warehouse in the Port of Beirut.
Lebanon’s Red Cross chief George Kettani said: “What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe. There are victims and casualties everywhere.”
Watch Pope Francis’ plea for prayer below:
Saint Joseph, terror of demons, cleanse this site of insensitive mischievous abuse. Amen. Saints Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, Louis-Marie de Montfort, pray for us.
May there be many generous good Samaritans coming forward to assist fellow mortals undergoing challenges in Lebanon.
[…] On Friday, the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Francis had made a personal donation of 250,000 Euros – a little under 300,000 US Dollars – in aid to the Church in Lebanon to help recover after a devastating explosion in the Port of Beirut. […]
[…] said he continues “to pray for Lebanon and for other dramatic situations in the world that are causing people to […]