Cardinal Monterisi offers flowers to Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims and says “Pope hopes to visit Japan”
Mar. 21, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa and Kohei Okata, Staff Writers
On March 17, during a visit to Hiroshima, Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, 82, the Vatican prelate, responded to a question from the press regarding a possible visit to Hiroshima by Pope Francis. Indicating that he would encourage the Pope to make this visit, Mr. Monterisi said that the pontiff feels strongly about coming to Japan and that he would meet with him in person to convey the voices of the citizens of Hiroshima Prefecture, who have expressed hopes for his visit to the A-bombed city.
Mr. Monterisi spoke with reporters at the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward after touring the Peace Memorial Museum. At the museum, he studied the items on display, including the tattered school uniform of an A-bomb victim, and said that he couldn’t find the words to describe his feelings about such an overwhelming catastrophe. He also said that he was moved to pray for peace in the world. At the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, he made an offering of flowers and put his hands together in prayer.
Mr. Monterisi came to Hiroshima to participate in a concert given by an Italian orchestra and other musicians, which sought to raise support for the reconstruction efforts taking place in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui.
On the same day, H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Nasser bin Saif Al-Maawali, 42, the Chairman of the Shura Council in Oman, and 5 Omani lawmakers, also paid a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. They arrived in Japan at the invitation of Japan’s House of Representatives. After meeting with Mr. Matsui at City Hall, Mr. Maawali said that he will never forget the tragedy of Hiroshima’s past, and that a message of peace must be spread from Hiroshima to the rest of the world.
(Originally published on March 21, 2017)
On March 17, during a visit to Hiroshima, Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, 82, the Vatican prelate, responded to a question from the press regarding a possible visit to Hiroshima by Pope Francis. Indicating that he would encourage the Pope to make this visit, Mr. Monterisi said that the pontiff feels strongly about coming to Japan and that he would meet with him in person to convey the voices of the citizens of Hiroshima Prefecture, who have expressed hopes for his visit to the A-bombed city.
Mr. Monterisi spoke with reporters at the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward after touring the Peace Memorial Museum. At the museum, he studied the items on display, including the tattered school uniform of an A-bomb victim, and said that he couldn’t find the words to describe his feelings about such an overwhelming catastrophe. He also said that he was moved to pray for peace in the world. At the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, he made an offering of flowers and put his hands together in prayer.
Mr. Monterisi came to Hiroshima to participate in a concert given by an Italian orchestra and other musicians, which sought to raise support for the reconstruction efforts taking place in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui.
On the same day, H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Nasser bin Saif Al-Maawali, 42, the Chairman of the Shura Council in Oman, and 5 Omani lawmakers, also paid a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. They arrived in Japan at the invitation of Japan’s House of Representatives. After meeting with Mr. Matsui at City Hall, Mr. Maawali said that he will never forget the tragedy of Hiroshima’s past, and that a message of peace must be spread from Hiroshima to the rest of the world.
(Originally published on March 21, 2017)
