Vatican’s Beirut Visit Distracts from Spiritual Crisis with Political Gestures
EWTN News reports on Pope Leo XIV’s planned visit to the Beirut port explosion site, quoting William Noun – brother of victim Joe Noun – who frames the visit as crucial for reviving the stalled investigation into the 2020 blast. The article emphasizes Noun’s meeting with antipope Francis in 2024, where the latter allegedly offered “human-focused” solidarity. Noun now demands Vatican pressure on Lebanese authorities and foreign governments to disclose satellite imagery, while Maronite priest Dany Dergham openly requests the Vatican leverage diplomatic channels for this purpose. The piece concludes by presenting Noun’s view that this papal visit counters Hezbollah’s obstructionism and allegedly protects Lebanon’s Christian minority.