Pope Leo Prays for Victims of Rome Petrol Station Explosion

Vatican City, July 4, 2025 : Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers for those affected by a powerful explosion at a petrol station in eastern Rome, which injured over 20 people, including several emergency responders.

In a post shared in Italian on his X account (@Pontifex_it), the Pope expressed his concern for the people impacted by the incident. “I pray for the people involved in the explosion at a gas station this morning in the Prenestino Labicano district, in the heart of my Diocese,” he wrote. “I continue to follow with concern the developments of this tragic incident.”

The explosion occurred shortly after 8:15 AM on Friday, 4 July, and the sound of the blast could be heard in several surrounding neighbourhoods. A thick plume of smoke was seen rising above the city skyline.

Among those injured were nine police officers, a firefighter, and a first responder. Rome’s fire department reported that the explosion was likely caused by a pipeline detaching from a fuel tanker while it was refuelling the station. Emergency services, however, are still working to determine the exact cause.

At the time of the explosion, firefighters were already on-site responding to an earlier fire. The resulting blast injured emergency personnel and caused damage to surrounding buildings.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri visited the area to inspect the scene and was briefed by authorities on the ongoing investigation and recovery efforts.

Currently, five individuals have been taken to hospital with minor burns and injuries from shattered glass. Thankfully, none of the injuries are reported to be life-threatening.

One of the most affected nearby structures was the Polisportiva Villa De Sanctis sports centre, which also hosts a summer camp for children. Although the centre sustained significant damage, it had been evacuated just before the explosion occurred.

Fabio Balzani, president of the centre, reflected on the narrow escape: “If it had happened an hour later, it would have been a massacre. There would have been the 60 children from the summer centre, us coordinators, and 120 people who booked the pool. The sports centre is damaged; it looks like a battlefield.”

Pope Leo’s message of solidarity, shared widely online, has brought spiritual comfort to a city still reeling from the unexpected tragedy. The Church and local authorities continue to support those recovering and assessing the extent of the damage.

Courtesy: Vatican News