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Pope Leo's Message to mark the 80th Anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

August 6, 2025

Pope Leo has issued a Message to mark the 80th Anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Highlighting the importance of peace, justice, fraternity and the common good, the Holy Father writes:

"Though many years have passed [Hiroshima and Nagasaki] remain living reminders of the profound horrors wrought by nuclear weapons. Their streets, schools and homes still bear scars—both visible and spiritual—from that fateful August of 1945. In this context, I hasten to reiterate the words so often used by my beloved predecessor Pope Francis: 'War is always a defeat for humanity'.
"As a survivor from Nagasaki, Dr Takashi Nagai wrote: 'The person of love is the person of ‘bravery who does not bear arms' (Heiwato, 1979).  Indeed, true peace demands the courageous laying down of weapons—especially those with the power to cause an indescribable catastrophe.  
"Nuclear arms offend our shared humanity and also betray the dignity of creation, whose harmony we are called to safeguard.
"In our time of mounting global tensions and conflicts, Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand as 'symbols of memory' (cf. Francis, Letter, May 2023) that urge us to reject the illusion of security founded on mutually assured destruction. Instead, we must forge a global ethic rooted in justice, fraternity and the common good.
"It is thus my prayer that this solemn anniversary will serve as a call to the international community to renew its commitment to pursuing lasting peace for our whole human family—“a peace that is unarmed and disarming” (First Apostolic Blessing 'Urbi et Orbi', May 2025)."

Pax Christi, the international Catholic peace movement, are holding a Prayer Vigil at Westminster Cathedral Piazza in London, at 11am-1pm today.

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