SA国际传媒

By SA国际传媒

Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the people of Japan on Thursday, to mark the 75^th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima which took place during the Second SA国际传媒 War.

In a message sent Thursday to the Governor of the Hiroshima Prefecture, Hidehiko Yusaki, the Pope offered his 鈥渃ordial greetings to the organizers and participants in the seventy-fifth solemn anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, and in a special way to the hibakusha survivors of the original tragedy.鈥�

The Pope also recalled that he was able to reflect on 鈥渢he destruction of human life and property鈥� at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima and at Hypocenter Park in Nagasaki during his Apostolic Visit to the two cities in November 2019.

Pilgrim of peace

Pope Francis said that just as he came to Japan last year as a pilgrim of peace, he holds in his heart 鈥渢he longing of the peoples of our time,鈥� especially of young people 鈥渨ho thirst for peace and make sacrifices for peace.鈥�

He also expressed his closeness to the poor 鈥渨ho are always among the first victims of violence and conflict.鈥�

Pope appeals against nuclear weapons

Recalling his message at Hiroshima in 2019, Pope Francis said that 鈥渢he use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral.鈥�

For peace to flourish, therefore, 鈥渁ll people need to lay down the weapons of war, and especially the most powerful and destructive weapon: nuclear arms that can cripple and destroy whole cities, whole countries,鈥� the Pope said.

Closeness to nuclear bomb survivors

Pope Francis turned his thoughts towards the 鈥渂omb-affected-people鈥� referred to as hibakusha.

Many of them, survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, suffer from horrifying effects of the bombings including radiation poisoning and psychological trauma. 

Pope Francis prayed that their prophetic voices might serve 鈥渁s a warning to us for coming generations.鈥�

鈥淭o them, and to all who work for reconciliation,鈥� said the Pope, 鈥渨e make the words of the psalmist our own: 鈥楩or the love of my brethren and my friends. I say: Peace upon you!鈥� (Ps 122: 8)

Concluding his message, Pope Francis invoked 鈥渁bundant divine blessings鈥� upon all who commemorate the solemn anniversary.