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Recalling Tragic Explosions in Beirut, Pope Appeals for International Community to Help Lebanon

Urges All Faithful to Join Him in Prayer

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Recalling the horrendous and deadly explosions in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut yesterday, Pope Francis has called upon the International Community to help.

The Holy Father did so this morning, Aug. 5, 2020, his first General Audience since his annual July break, after starting a new catechesis series on healing the world.

The Pontiff’s appeal came at the audience’s conclusion. Due to COVID19, the General Audiences continue to be held privately in the Vatican’s Apostolic Library and streamed for faithful worldwide.

“Yesterday in Beirut, near the port,” the Pope recalled, “there were massive explosions causing dozens of deaths, wounding thousands and causing serious destruction.”

“Let us pray for the victims, for their families,” he urged, adding: “let us pray for Lebanon so that, through the dedication of all its social, political and religious elements, it might face this extremely tragic and painful moment and, with the help of the international community, overcome the grave crisis they are experiencing.”

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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