“For love of my brethren and friends, I say: Peace upon you!” (Ps 122:8).
The first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, on Hiroshima, virtually levelling the city. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. About 140,000 died in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. Half the deaths in each city occurred on the day of the blasts; with burns and radiation sickness claiming many lives more in the following weeks and months and years.
Pope Francis journeyed in Thailand and Japan from the 19th to 26th November 2019. On the first full day of his tour of Japan, Pope Francis visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki and delivered a clear message: possessing or deploying atomic weapons is immoral.
The following is the opening paragraphs of his message delivered at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima.
“God of mercy and Lord of history, to you we lift up our eyes from this place, where death and life have met, loss and rebirth, suffering and compassion.
Here, in an incandescent burst of lightning and fire, so many men and women, so many dreams and hopes, disappeared, leaving behind only shadows and silence. In barely an instant, everything was devoured by a black hole of destruction and death. From that abyss of silence, we continue even today to hear the cries of those who are no longer. They came from different places, had different names, and some spoke different languages. Yet all were united in the same fate, in a terrifying hour that left its mark forever not only on the history of this country, but on the face of humanity”.
The 80th Anniversary of the atomic bombing
On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, Pope Leo XIV dedicated some time to remembering the tens of thousands killed and injured on August 6, 1945. He also recalled that in just three days, the world will mark another sad anniversary: the bombing of Nagasaki.
At the close of his General Audience, the Pope offered words of solidarity, “I wish to assure my prayers for all those who have suffered its physical, psychological, and social consequences.”
He highlighted that despite the eight decades which have passed since the bombings, “those tragic events remain a universal warning against the devastation caused by war—and particularly by nuclear weapons.”
Pope Leo expressed his hope that the world today—plagued by intense divisions and deadly violence—will replace its false sense of security “based on the threat of mutual destruction” with justice, open dialogue, and trust in fraternity.
In Japan, the annual ceremony was held at the city’s Peace Memorial Park to mark the anniversary. Representatives from a record 120 countries and regions participated in the memorial service with a moment of silence observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact time of the bombing.
We Pray …
In a single plea to God and to all men and women of good will,
on behalf of all the victims of atomic bombings and experiments,
and of all conflicts,
let us together cry out from our hearts:
Never again war,
never again the clash of arms,
never again so much suffering!
May peace come in our time and to our world.O God,
you have promised us that “mercy and faithfulness have met,
justice and peace have embraced;
faithfulness shall spring from the earth,
and justice look down from heaven” (Ps 84:11-12).Come, Lord, for it is late,
and where destruction has abounded,
may hope also abound today
that we can write and achieve a different future.
Come, Lord, Prince of Peace!Make us instruments and reflections of your peace!
“For love of my brethren and friends, I say: Peace upon you!” (Ps 122:8).
(Extract from Pope Francis in his Message at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, Sunday 2th November 2019. Format created for this post).
See Full text of the Message by Pope Francis at the Peace memorial in Hiroshima, 24th November 2019.
See also https://presentationsistersne.ie/i-say-peace-upon-you/
