Rio's Christ lit up to honor victims in Beirut

iconic statue of Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro lit up with Lebanese flag on Thursday to hour victims of this week's devastating explosion in Beirut. In a ceremony beside statue, religious leers remembered 135 victims of blast and offered prayers for injured and those me homeless by disaster. event was attended by Bishop George Khoury of Greek Melkite Church - also kwn as Eastern Catholic Church - and Lebanese consul in Rio, Dr. Alejandro Bitar.

"We hope our Leban can be again a place for peace, understanding and love," said Bitar.

Bishop Khoury said a campaign was underway to raise funds to help rebuild churches destroyed by explosion. Brazil is believed to have world's largest Lebanese community outside Leban itself, numbering some ten million people. 

(Im Credits: Twitter/@aayoub)