Pope Calls Nuclear Deterrence 'Illusionary' on Hiroshima Anniversary
However, he refrained from directly criticizing nuclear-armed states, highlighting a contrast in tone with his predecessor, Pope Francis.
During the general audience, Pope Leo XIV stated that the tragedy Hiroshima experienced serves as "a warning against the devastation caused [...] by nuclear weapons." Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where many gathered on the morning of August 6 to honor the victims and pray for peace. (©Sankei by Kotaro Hikono)
He called for moving beyond deterrence based on the threat of mutual destruction and urged progress through dialogue and confidence-building.
The August 5 message was sent to a peace gathering held in Hiroshima. In it, he quoted the words of the former pope: "War is always a defeat for humanity." He emphasized the need for the courage to lay down arms for the sake of peace.
Pope Francis, during his 2019 visit to Hiroshima, described the possession or deployment of atomic weapons as immoral. In 2022, during a meeting with then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Vatican, he also remarked that "use and possession of nuclear weapons is inconceivable," repeatedly criticizing nuclear-armed nations.
( Read the article in Japanese . )
Author: Mina Mitsui, The Sankei Shimbun
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