Pope Leo XIV called for the international community to renew its commitment to lasting peace on the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. The Pope stated that nuclear weapons offend humanity and betray the dignity of creation. He expressed respect for the survivors of the Hiroshima bombing, the hibakusha, and highlighted their stories as a call to build a safer world. The Pope reiterated the appeal of Pope Francis that war is always a defeat for humanity.
4 months ago
Pope Leo XIV has issued a strong appeal for global peace and nuclear disarmament on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, with Nagasaki's anniversary approaching in two days 1, 4, 7. Speaking at his general audience and in a message to Bishop Alexis Shirama of Hiroshima, the Pope emphasized that these tragic events serve as a "universal warning" against the devastation caused by war and nuclear weapons 1, 7. He urged the international community to move beyond the "illusory security" of nuclear deterrence and commit to lasting peace 1, 2, 4.
Pope Leo XIV unequivocally stated that nuclear arms "offend our shared humanity and betray the dignity of creation" 2, 5, 7. He highlighted that the memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with their visible and spiritual scars, should compel humanity to reject the false sense of security based on "mutually assured destruction" 2, 4, 5. Instead, he called for the adoption of a "global ethic rooted in justice, fraternity and the common good" 2, 7.
The Pope proposed that the "illusory security" of nuclear deterrence be replaced by "the tools of justice, to the practice of dialogue, and to trust in fraternity" 1, 4, 7. He reiterated his predecessor Pope Francis's sentiment that "war is always a defeat for humanity" and stressed that true peace requires "the courageous laying down of weapons, especially those with the power to cause an indescribable catastrophe" 2, 5, 7. Pope Leo XIV also expressed his prayers for the hibakusha, the survivors of the bombings, whose stories are a "timely summons" to build a safer world 2, 7.
Beyond the Pope's direct messages, the broader Catholic community is actively commemorating the anniversary and advocating for peace 3, 5, 6. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, echoed the Pope's call, urging a "conversion of heart" for a global commitment to lasting peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons 5, 6. A delegation of U.S. Catholic cardinals and archbishops, including Cardinal Blase Cupich and Cardinal Robert McElroy, are undertaking a five-day "pilgrimage of peace" to Japan, coordinated by the Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons 5, 6. This pilgrimage includes panel discussions, Masses, and academic symposiums in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, further emphasizing the Church's commitment to nuclear disarmament 5, 6.
What is the Church's teaching on nuclear weapons?
The Catholic Church teaches that the possession and use of nuclear weapons are immoral, advocating for their total elimination and emphasizing that security should not be based on deterrence through fear , , , .
Pope Francis has stated that "the use of nuclear weapons, as well as their mere possession, is immoral" . This teaching is rooted in the understanding that nuclear weapons pose catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences, with devastating, indiscriminate, and uncontainable effects , . The risk of accidental use alone could lead to "appalling slaughter and destruction" .
The Church views the premise of nuclear weapons as deterrence as flawed . Pope Benedict XVI noted that relying on nuclear arms for security is "not only baneful but also completely fallacious," as a nuclear war would result in "no victors, only victims" . Pope Francis further elaborated that stability based on fear "actually increases fear and undermines relationships of trust between peoples" . International peace and stability cannot be founded on a false sense of security or the threat of mutual destruction .
The Church consistently calls for "general, balanced and controlled disarmament" . It urges nations to move away from reliance on nuclear weapons for security and to pursue concrete measures of disarmament based on dialogue and multilateral negotiations , . The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is seen as providing direction towards this goal, and the Holy See hopes for further steps to advance verification and positive obligations . The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) advocates for a mutual, verifiable global ban on nuclear weapons as a policy goal, not just a moral ideal .
The Church opposes the investment of vast sums of money in modernizing nuclear weapons systems, arguing that these resources should instead be used to address pressing development concerns and end global hunger , , , . The USCCB has called for reversing the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and reducing reliance on weapons of mass destruction through progressive nuclear disarmament , .
The Church emphasizes the need to break down the climate of distrust that undermines international arms control frameworks . Building mutual trust through dialogue directed towards the common good is essential for a collective and concerted response to the threat of nuclear weapons . The Holy See and the USCCB have supported diplomatic efforts, such as the P5+1 Agreement with Iran, as steps towards greater stability and security .