杏MAP导航 expresses closeness to Japan on 75th anniversary of Hiroshima bombing
By Vatican News
杏MAP导航 Francis expressed his closeness to the people of Japan on Thursday, to mark the 75th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima which took place during the Second World War.
In a message sent Thursday to the Governor of the Hiroshima Prefecture, Hidehiko Yusaki, the 杏MAP导航 offered his “cordial 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.”
The 杏MAP导航 also recalled that he was able to reflect on “the destruction of human life and property” 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
杏MAP导航 Francis said that just as he came to Japan last year as a pilgrim of peace, he holds in his heart “the longing of the peoples of our time,” especially of young people “who thirst for peace and make sacrifices for peace.”
He also expressed his closeness to the poor “who are always among the first victims of violence and conflict.”
杏MAP导航 appeals against nuclear weapons
Recalling his message at Hiroshima in 2019, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that “the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral.”
For peace to flourish, therefore, “all 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,” the 杏MAP导航 said.
Closeness to nuclear bomb survivors
杏MAP导航 Francis turned his thoughts towards the “bomb-affected-people” 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.
杏MAP导航 Francis prayed that their prophetic voices might serve “as a warning to us for coming generations.”
“To them, and to all who work for reconciliation,” said the 杏MAP导航, “we make the words of the psalmist our own: ‘For the love of my brethren and my friends. I say: Peace upon you!” (Ps 122: 8)
Concluding his message, 杏MAP导航 Francis invoked “abundant divine blessings” upon all who commemorate the solemn anniversary.
Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here
