Pope Leo XIV’s First Foreign Trip: A Reporter’s Perspective

Pope Leo XIV concluded his inaugural foreign tour with a poignant visit to Beirut, where he paid homage to victims of the devastating 2020 port explosion that continues to haunt Lebanon’s consciousness.

The six-day Middle Eastern pilgrimage, which wrapped up Tuesday, brought the pontiff to a location just miles from what has become known as Lebanon’s Ground Zero. The August 4, 2020, blast killed over 200 people, injured thousands, and left approximately 300,000 homeless in what experts describe as the largest non-nuclear explosion in history.

During a solemn ceremony at the port, Pope Leo offered a silent prayer and lit a lamp in memory of the victims. Five years after the catastrophe, Lebanon’s government has yet to conclude its investigation into how nearly three tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate detonated. On the fourth day of each month, victims’ families gather at the port to protest government inaction and corruption.

The trip, originally planned for the late Pope Francis, was meticulously organized over more than a year by Vatican officials. Eighty journalists from 15 countries, collectively known as the Vatican Accredited Media Personnel (VAMPS), accompanied the pontiff throughout the journey that included stops in both Turkey and Lebanon.

Evidence of the explosion’s destructive force remains visible across Beirut. The Intercontinental Phoenicia Hotel, which housed the papal press corps, only reopened in 2023 after extensive repairs. “All the air seemed to be sucked out of the building and there was glass flying and dust everywhere,” recalled one staff member, noting that while there were no fatalities at the hotel, the building still stands surrounded by skeletal, burned-out structures.

Six months into his papacy, Pope Leo appears to be gaining confidence, delivering increasingly forceful speeches while maintaining a measured, diplomatic tone. Throughout the Lebanese leg of his journey, the American-born pontiff spoke in English, French, and even offered a few words in Arabic as he emphasized the need for peace between local authorities, religious groups, and the nation’s youth.

At a Monday evening celebration described as a “Christian type of Woodstock,” the Pope made an impassioned plea to Lebanese citizens: “Have hope, don’t leave, your country needs you!” His message resonated in a nation suffering from severe economic crisis, political instability, and renewed violence following Iran-backed Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel after the October 2023 Hamas incursion.

During the in-flight press conference returning to Rome, Pope Leo addressed thorny questions including the Gaza conflict, reaffirming the Vatican’s long-standing support for a two-state solution while emphasizing, “Israel is our friend.”

Lebanon’s complex challenges were articulated by locals who met with the Pope. Nada Merhi, a Catholic Maronite volunteer who survived the country’s 1975-1990 civil war, expressed her unwavering commitment to remain in Lebanon despite ongoing hardships. “We need concrete help, but above all we just want peace. I hope the Pope will not forget about us,” she said.

Andre Sassine, a small business owner from Byblos, conveyed optimism that peace could revitalize the economy while suggesting external influences, not religious differences, lie at the root of Lebanon’s problems. “We Lebanese love America,” he stated, “and we love this new pope born in America. Please help us find peace.”

The visit represents a significant diplomatic milestone for Pope Leo XIV’s young papacy, highlighting his commitment to regions experiencing conflict while establishing his distinct leadership style on the global stage.