<em>The ruins of Nagasaki Cathedral after the destruction of the city by a nuclear bomb on 9 August 1945. </em>Getty Images
78 YEARS AFTER the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, on 9 August 1945, a group of Japanese and US Catholic bishops announced a new initiative to promote the realization of a world without nuclear weapons, focusing on past acts, the present reality, and building a culture of peace.
“We, the bishops of four Catholic arch/dioceses in areas impacted by nuclear weapons, declare that we will begin working together to achieve a ‘world without nuclear weapons,’” said the bishops. “We urge that concrete progress be made by August 2025, the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings.”
The group consists of Archbishops John Wester of Santa Fe and Paul Etienne of Seattle – both who lead archdioceses with ties to the production and deployment of nuclear weapons. It also includes Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki, Bishop Alexis Mitsuru Shurahama of Hiroshima and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, who lead the Japanese dioceses bombed in August 1945.
The announcement came amid a “pilgrimage of peace” to Japan led by Archbishops Wester and Etienne, who were accompanied by organizations and archdiocesan officials dedicated to nuclear-disarmament advocacy.
Announcing the new initiative, the prelates condemned the possession of nuclear weapons as immoral. They also outlined three areas of focus for their dioceses as part of the initiative, and invited other dioceses and religious religious traditions to join them in these efforts. They noted three areas of focus: to remember, to walk together and to protect.
“We call on our priests, religious, and lay people to participate actively in this partnership, and we ask for the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace,” the bishops said. “That road to peace is difficult – we cannot travel it alone.”
To remember, the bishops said that they intend to listen to and create dialogue with people on both sides of the issue. That includes victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, uranium miners, peace activists, nuclear engineers, military personnel and diplomats.
To walk together, the bishops said that they will offer Mass at least once a year with a special intention for a world without nuclear weapons, and periodically call for a special collection to support nuclear victims and restore the environments the weapons have destroyed.
To protect, the bishops said they will continue advocacy for countries to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which has been signed by none of the Group of Seven countries, which includes the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Included in the initiative announcement but separate from the initiative itself, the bishops echoed a call they made in May to G7 country leaders to take concrete steps towards the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Archbishop Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo said that he was grateful for the advocacy of the American bishops.
“We, in Japan, are happy to have bishops and friends from the US to speak against nuclear weapons and call for their abolition, as the US is the one of the biggest holders of these destructive weapons,” Archbishop Kikuchi said. “There have to be voices from the side of victims calling for peace, but there should also be voices from the side of those who have potential to use nuclear weapons.”
“We are happy that those from the US, especially some of the bishops, had courage to call for abolition of nuclear weapons,” he said. “We have to try to prove through our own action within the Church all over the world that dialogue is the only way for solidarity and trust,” Kikuchi said. “That is promoting synodality. A synodal Church would be an model for the world of the Peace of God.”
