Pope’s impressive message serves to renew determination to engage in peace activities
Nov. 26, 2019
While world attention was focusing on Pope Francis’s visit to Hiroshima, many A-bomb survivors and young people attended a gathering held in the Peace Memorial Park, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, on the evening of November 24. The participants were impressed and encouraged by the pope’s message, which served to renew their determination to engage in their peace activities.
“I was able to share my thoughts with the pope,” said Shigeaki Mori, 82, after he shook hands with the pontiff. Mr. Mori is an A-bomb survivor and local historian living in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima, who shed light on the fact that twelve American POWs were killed by the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. He also recalled the moment three years ago when then U.S. President Barack Obama embraced him in the Peace Memorial Park. He took the pope’s message as follows: The pope reiterated that the most important thing to remember is that war is evil, and peace must be handed down steadily to successive generations.
In his message, the pope talked about A-bomb victims, saying, “Some spoke different languages.” Lee Jong Keun, 90, an A-bomb survivor living in Asaminami Ward and chair of the Committee Seeking Measures for Korean A-bomb Victims, talked about the fact that many Koreans were exposed to the atomic bomb and died while also suffering from discrimination. He said, “The pope included in his speech facts that I have always wanted the world to know about, so I am very grateful for it.”
Students belonging to the newspaper club at Sotoku High School (Nishi Ward), who attended the Meeting for Peace, conducted a survey near the meeting site, asking people whether they thought the pope’s visit to the A-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Ryota Masui, 16, a second-year student, said, “I was deeply impressed by the pope’s message in which he pointed out the contradiction of hoping for peace on one hand and possessing weapons on the other hand.” Takuto Toyoshima, 16, a second-year student, and the newspaper club leader, said, “There are still only a few junior and senior high school students who are interested in peace. To send news about peace is our mission.”
(Originally published on November 26, 2019)
“I was able to share my thoughts with the pope,” said Shigeaki Mori, 82, after he shook hands with the pontiff. Mr. Mori is an A-bomb survivor and local historian living in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima, who shed light on the fact that twelve American POWs were killed by the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. He also recalled the moment three years ago when then U.S. President Barack Obama embraced him in the Peace Memorial Park. He took the pope’s message as follows: The pope reiterated that the most important thing to remember is that war is evil, and peace must be handed down steadily to successive generations.
In his message, the pope talked about A-bomb victims, saying, “Some spoke different languages.” Lee Jong Keun, 90, an A-bomb survivor living in Asaminami Ward and chair of the Committee Seeking Measures for Korean A-bomb Victims, talked about the fact that many Koreans were exposed to the atomic bomb and died while also suffering from discrimination. He said, “The pope included in his speech facts that I have always wanted the world to know about, so I am very grateful for it.”
Students belonging to the newspaper club at Sotoku High School (Nishi Ward), who attended the Meeting for Peace, conducted a survey near the meeting site, asking people whether they thought the pope’s visit to the A-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Ryota Masui, 16, a second-year student, said, “I was deeply impressed by the pope’s message in which he pointed out the contradiction of hoping for peace on one hand and possessing weapons on the other hand.” Takuto Toyoshima, 16, a second-year student, and the newspaper club leader, said, “There are still only a few junior and senior high school students who are interested in peace. To send news about peace is our mission.”
(Originally published on November 26, 2019)
