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A delegation representing the families of the victims of the August 4, 2020, Beirut port explosion is en route to the Vatican, according to informed sources. They will be received on August 26 by Pope Francis and Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The group consists of approximately twenty people, including spokespersons for the victims’ families, such as Dr. Nazih el-Adem, father of Krystel el-Adem, William Noun, brother of firefighter Joe Noun, and lawyer Cécile Roukoz, whose brother was killed in the explosion.
They will be accompanied by several Lebanese ecclesiastical figures.
The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Paolo Borgia, will also attend the audience.
The delegation will initially meet with the Pope, who may offer them words of solace before celebrating a Mass for them in the Paolina Chapel. Subsequently, they will have an audience with Cardinal Parolin.
According to reliable sources, the visit and audience are purely pastoral, aimed at providing spiritual support from the Pope to those affected by the explosion. Nonetheless, the audience will inevitably bring increased visibility to the cause of the victims’ families.
Since 2021, the Pope has consistently raised awareness about their plight during the Angelus prayer on August 4. This year, he once again acknowledged their suffering, stating, “Today, the Lebanese people continue to endure immense hardships! I particularly remember the families of the victims of the Beirut port explosion. I pray for swift justice and truth to prevail. May the new Blessed (Editor’s note: Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, beatified on August 2) uphold the faith and hope of the Church in Lebanon, and may he intercede for this beloved country.”
