Editorial: Let us carry on the late pope’s wish to abolish nuclear weapons
Apr. 23, 2025
“The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral.” The image of him, who called for the abolition of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima, comes to mind.
Pope Francis, who visited the A-bombed city in 2019, passed away two days ago at the age of 88.
Successive popes expressed their opposition to nuclear weapons. In 1963, during the Cold War era, Pope John XXIII insisted the weapon be banned, keeping the Cuban Missile Crisis of the previous year in mind. In 1981, Pope John Paul II appealed in Hiroshima, saying: “To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war.”
Pope Francis, among others, strongly desired to abolish nuclear weapons. After he became the pontiff in 2013, he repeatedly urged for the necessity of eliminating the weapon. He had yearned to come to Japan as a missionary when he was young, but that dream did not come true. Visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the first since Pope John Paul II’s visit 38 years prior, was said to be a desire he had been hatching since he took the post. He circulated the photograph “The Boy Standing by the Crematory,” taken in Nagasaki shortly after the atomic bombing, around the world.
In 2014, he criticized nuclear weapon states for making little progress on nuclear disarmament, stating humankind has not learned anything from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The situation surrounding nuclear arms today is worse than it was back then. There is always war in various parts of the world. He must have been worried about the future of humanity on his sickbed.
Donald Trump, who made a comeback as the president of the United States, has thrown the international community into a whirlpool of unrest and confusion with his aggressive “might is right” stance. Russia, a nuclear superpower alongside the United States, took the extreme measure of invading Ukraine, violating international law. Not only that, but the country has repeatedly hinted at the potential use of nuclear weapons during the invasion. Israel, the only nuclear state in the Middle East, has been attacking the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip, killing or injuring civilians in the region. What is more, one of its ministers has gone so far as to make violent remarks suggesting the use of nuclear weapons. In Asia, China and North Korea are forging ahead on their own paths toward expanding their nuclear arsenals.
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), which obligates nuclear weapon states to negotiate nuclear disarmament in good faith, is dysfunctional. The NPT Review Conference, held every five years, ended in failure twice in a row due to hard-line stances by the United States and Russia.
With no hope the NPT negotiations, which rely entirely on nuclear weapon states, would progress, countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) wishing to eliminate nuclear weapons created the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which comprehensively bans nuclear weapons. The pope backed it to be concluded, and Vatican City was the first to ratify the TPNW, providing international momentum. However, nuclear powers have turned their backs on the treaty, and nations under the “nuclear umbrella,” including Japan, have also taken a backward-looking stance on it.
Under these circumstances, the death of Pope Francis is unfortunate. The Roman Catholic Church, led by the pope, has approximately 1.3 billion followers, accounting for 20 percent of the world’s population. It is only natural the lament over his death will spread throughout the world.
However, there is no time for discouragement. Let us recall the words of Pope Francis in the A-bombed cities: “A world of peace, free from nuclear weapons, is the aspiration of millions of men and women everywhere; A world without nuclear weapons is possible and necessary.”
It is by carrying on his legacy and continuing to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons that we will be able to pave the way for the survival of all humanity, transcending religion and denomination. That is also the unchanged duty of the A-bombed cities.
(Originally published on April 23, 2025)
Pope Francis, who visited the A-bombed city in 2019, passed away two days ago at the age of 88.
Successive popes expressed their opposition to nuclear weapons. In 1963, during the Cold War era, Pope John XXIII insisted the weapon be banned, keeping the Cuban Missile Crisis of the previous year in mind. In 1981, Pope John Paul II appealed in Hiroshima, saying: “To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war.”
Pope Francis, among others, strongly desired to abolish nuclear weapons. After he became the pontiff in 2013, he repeatedly urged for the necessity of eliminating the weapon. He had yearned to come to Japan as a missionary when he was young, but that dream did not come true. Visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the first since Pope John Paul II’s visit 38 years prior, was said to be a desire he had been hatching since he took the post. He circulated the photograph “The Boy Standing by the Crematory,” taken in Nagasaki shortly after the atomic bombing, around the world.
In 2014, he criticized nuclear weapon states for making little progress on nuclear disarmament, stating humankind has not learned anything from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The situation surrounding nuclear arms today is worse than it was back then. There is always war in various parts of the world. He must have been worried about the future of humanity on his sickbed.
Donald Trump, who made a comeback as the president of the United States, has thrown the international community into a whirlpool of unrest and confusion with his aggressive “might is right” stance. Russia, a nuclear superpower alongside the United States, took the extreme measure of invading Ukraine, violating international law. Not only that, but the country has repeatedly hinted at the potential use of nuclear weapons during the invasion. Israel, the only nuclear state in the Middle East, has been attacking the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip, killing or injuring civilians in the region. What is more, one of its ministers has gone so far as to make violent remarks suggesting the use of nuclear weapons. In Asia, China and North Korea are forging ahead on their own paths toward expanding their nuclear arsenals.
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), which obligates nuclear weapon states to negotiate nuclear disarmament in good faith, is dysfunctional. The NPT Review Conference, held every five years, ended in failure twice in a row due to hard-line stances by the United States and Russia.
With no hope the NPT negotiations, which rely entirely on nuclear weapon states, would progress, countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) wishing to eliminate nuclear weapons created the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which comprehensively bans nuclear weapons. The pope backed it to be concluded, and Vatican City was the first to ratify the TPNW, providing international momentum. However, nuclear powers have turned their backs on the treaty, and nations under the “nuclear umbrella,” including Japan, have also taken a backward-looking stance on it.
Under these circumstances, the death of Pope Francis is unfortunate. The Roman Catholic Church, led by the pope, has approximately 1.3 billion followers, accounting for 20 percent of the world’s population. It is only natural the lament over his death will spread throughout the world.
However, there is no time for discouragement. Let us recall the words of Pope Francis in the A-bombed cities: “A world of peace, free from nuclear weapons, is the aspiration of millions of men and women everywhere; A world without nuclear weapons is possible and necessary.”
It is by carrying on his legacy and continuing to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons that we will be able to pave the way for the survival of all humanity, transcending religion and denomination. That is also the unchanged duty of the A-bombed cities.
(Originally published on April 23, 2025)
