At the end of the general audience on August 4, 2021, Pope Francis recalled the anniversary of the “terrible explosion” in the port of Beirut (Lebanon), which occurred a year ago. He lamented how “so many people have lost the desire to go on.”
In these days, I think especially of the beloved country of Lebanon a year after the terrible port explosion in its capital, Beirut, with its toll of death and destruction. I think above all of the victims and their families, the many injured, and those who lost their homes and livelihoods. So many people have lost the desire to go on.
The Holy Father noted the Day of Prayer he hosted last month, with a delegation of the main leaders and representatives of the Christian Churches in Lebanon.
During the Day of Prayer and Reflection for Lebanon last July 1 … all of us listened to the hopes and aspirations, the frustrations and weariness of the Lebanese people, and we prayed for God’s gift of hope to overcome this difficult crisis.
Get beyond words
Thus, Pope Francis urged the international community to go beyond words, and get to concrete deeds to help the country.
Today I would also appeal to the international community to offer Lebanon concrete assistance, not only with words but with concrete actions in undertaking a journey of “resurrection.” It is my hope that the current International Conference hosted by France with the support of the United Nations will prove productive in this regard.
The French president is hoping the donor conference will generate 357 million dollars in aid to meet the most urgent needs of the country.
A country that is a message
Finally, the Holy Father assured the people of Lebanon both of his desire to visit the country and his constant prayer.
Dear Lebanese friends, I greatly desire to visit you and I do not tire of praying for you, so that Lebanon will once more be a message of peace and fraternity for the entire Middle East.
And today we celebrate...