“Beloved and suffering Lebanon” was the heartfelt theme of a prayer vigil held Sunday evening in the outdoor courtyard of Our Lady of Deliverance Church, in Beirut’s Karantina district near the port. The ceremony, attended by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paolo Borgia, featured a candlelit procession and the blessing of the 75 olive trees - each one honoring a victim of the August 4 explosion - planted along the road leading to the port. A total of 245 are to be planted.
The number reflects the updated death toll, now officially 253, as some victims succumbed to their injuries, months or even years after the blast. The toll was previously estimated to be between 220 and 230. Furthermore, many of the more than 6,000 hospitalized continue to endure long-term, debilitating effects from their wounds.
During the vigil, the Holy See’s ambassador read a message from Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, delivered on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, reminding the faithful that “death never has the final word.”
On the fifth anniversary of the tragic double explosion at the Beirut port, the Pope assures all Lebanese of his spiritual closeness and united prayers.
“In this time of reflection, he invites you to meditate on Christ’s response to the death of His friend Lazarus. Jesus revealed the mystery of death. He wept alongside us in grief for those we have lost. Christ draws near to each of you. Then, praying to the Father, the source of life, Jesus gave a sign of hope by commanding Lazarus to rise from the tomb. This act assures us that Christ is the God of life and that death will never have the final word.
Jesus is our Savior. Just as He said to Martha, mourning her brother Lazarus: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, shall live; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26).
Monsignor Paolo Borgia: “Truth and Justice Are Sacred Rights”
Mgr. Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, stressed the urgent need to shed light on the tragedy, five years later. “Seeking truth and justice is a sacred right in every civilized country that respects its citizens and the rule of law,” he affirmed.
The diplomat added, “Let us pray that the sacrifice of these victims - and so many others, offered on the altar of incompetence, mismanagement, violence, hatred, and war - does not remain in vain. May it not add hatred to hatred or violence to violence, but instead bear fruits of goodness and open the way to hope for a better future.”
“We heard deeply moving testimonies from victims’ families and medical professionals during this gathering,” shared the Nuncio. “It was a moment of true solidarity. I felt honored to share in their faith and stand alongside the grieving families in their pain.”
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