Truth about Beirut port blast can never stay hidden: Pope Francis

Recalling the incident of 2020’s Beirut port blast, Pope Francis conveyed the message that the truth behind the incident ‘cannot be hidden.' It was on the occasion of the second anniversary of the deadly explosion on Wednesday when the Pope expressed his thought with the hope that the people of Lebanon would be comforted by the justice.
In 2020, at least 215 people were killed and thousands injured when a giant stock of ammonium nitrate caught fire and blasted.

During his speech at the weekly general audience, Pope Francis acknowledged that Thursday would be the second year of the Beirut port blast, which also injured thousands of people. Also, a large swathe of the capital was damaged by the blast.


The ongoing investigation of the catastrophe has been at a pause for eight months since two sitting MPs who are accused of being connected with the incident have declined to appear for the hearing.

Francis conveyed his thoughts and sympathies to the families of the victim of the blast and the people of Lebanon. He prayed for each one of them so that they would get consoled and comforted by justice and faith.

Here, it is worth mentioning that despite the massive destruction that occurred from the blast, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, no senior official has been held accountable by the judicial investigation.

The proofs related to the investigation over the blast has not been shared for months, a majority of Lebanese consider it as the impunity enjoyed by the privileged ruling class that has been avoiding the accountability of corruption and pathetic governance. They also see it an example of financial collapse in the country.
Pope Francis expressed his thought that Lebanon, with the help of the international community, would go for a ‘renaissance’ and would become a land of peace where people of multiple religions and communities would live together in the fraternity.