On August 4, 2020, the city of Beirut, Lebanon, was devastated by one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The catastrophe originated in Warehouse 12 at the Port of Beirut, where a fire ignited 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored for nearly seven years. The resulting blast was equivalent to a small earthquake, generating a massive shockwave that ripped through the city. The explosion killed more than 200 people, injured over 6,000, and instantly rendered

During his visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV held a silent prayer and met with families of the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed 218 people. | Al Jazeera English