Did you know that there's a pope in Lebanon who giving Pope Leo a run for his money? And what if I told you that he was chosen by a group of cardinals? And what about having his own Swiss Guard? One could say it’s a mini-Vatican, made up of very, very small people. See for yourselves.
This is how they received Pope Leo XIV in one of his last encounters in the country. Here they are: these little ones at the doors of the psychiatric hospital, welcoming the Pope in a way that is, without a doubt, quite striking.
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MASS CROWD
Just as we mentioned yesterday, it’s necessary to highlight again the massive crowds that Pope Leo XIV encountered in Lebanon.
Over 150,000 people gathered along the seaside for the huge Mass that marked the final event of his first international trip.
One of them was a woman from South Carolina. Her grandfather had migrated to the United States in 1914 and promised to eventually return to his homeland, but never managed to make it back. She was invited by her cousins to see Pope Leo’s visit and decided to travel, even if only to see him for a few seconds.
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A SURPRISED LEO
Our colleagues on the plane told us that, during the press conference, Pope Leo commented on this moment during his trip.
It happened during his encounter with the Catholic community, when Pope Leo was surprised by the standing ovation he received upon arrival. The applaused lasted many minutes, until the actual event began.
He later explained it himself, saying that his face is very expressive and that he finds it amusing how journalists – myself included—try to interpret his expressions or read his mind. Pope Leo noted that he is always amazed to be with young people, who do not come just to see him but also to encounter Jesus.
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GROUND ZERO OF THE TRAGEDY
The most striking moment of the trip to Lebanon was undoubtedly the visit to the port of Beirut. It is one of the country’s deepest wounds, even five years later.
It was August 4, 2020. That morning, a fire triggered the detonation of almost 3,000 tons of highly explosive material that being used as fertilizer. That stock had been stored haphazardly since 2013 in the Warehouse No. 12 at the port.
And that was precisely at that spot that Pope Leo stood on. More than 200 people died there, 7,000 were injured, and the destruction and the damage to buildings—which still visible today—left over 300,000 people homeless. Pope Leo laid flowers and prayed in silence to remember what happened.
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THE COMFORTING EMBRACE
Now, let’s look at what happened right after. This moment is worth seeing: the most heart-wrenching moment of the entire trip. The silence spoke for itself.
This was an embrace of consolation for the victims, survivors, and families of those who died that day in 2020. Children were also present, and many held pictures of their loved ones who are no longer with them.
Five years later, the families of the victims still do not know the truth, nor has justice been served. The investigation was blocked years ago to political interference, and no one has ever been convicted. Only recently, in 2025, has been partially the investigation resumed.
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A MESSAGE TO FLOURISH
In addition to what our colleagues reported from Lebanon, we have been observing reactions from social media. One post caught our attention: it noted that when international politicians refer to Lebanon, there's usually a list of accusations about the corruption, economic crisis, or political collapse.
However, regarding Pope Leo XIV, they said he did not give a message of criticism, which is not known as his style anyway, but rather the exact opposite. They highlighted that his message was one of hope. And to quote the audience: “He told us, we will flourish,” which is exactly what the young people of Lebanon needed to hear.
