Pax Christi International statement on Pope's visit to Japan

Source: Pax Christi

From November 23rd until November 26th 2019, Pope Francis will be for the first time in Japan and visit Tokyo, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. For the Pax Christi peace movement this journey is an important momentum for its nuclear disarmament work, also as its preparing for the Pax Christi International 2020 World Assembly in Hiroshima.

The announced program of Pope Francis includes the delivering of a message on nuclear weapons, the visit of commemoration places and meetings with the Japanese Prime Minister Abe as well as Catholic Church leaders. It is also foreseen that he will be meeting with survivors of the 1945 Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, known as Hibakusha. Pax Christi Korea plans to bring 13 Korean Hibakusha to a Mass in the Nagasaki Baseball Stadium and a meeting in Hiroshima.

On the occasion of this important and unique visit, Pax Christi International's Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty Working Group and the Asia-Pacific Facilitation Group have jointly drafted a Pax Christi International statement, which is shared by Pax Christi International in joint cooperation with its members in Europe, the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific region.

The peace movement hopes that the Pope's visit his will help to mobilize Catholic communities for nuclear disarmament and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), that the Pope will speech about the importance of the TPNW and UN states their signature and ratification. Also, that Catholic leaders and media will take this as an opportunity to pronounce themselves nationally on the TPNW and the humanitarian consequences of the nuclear weapons.

In cooperation with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), of which Pax Christi International is a member, several of our national members will send a letter to their national bishop's conferences highlighting the visit and asking for their actions.

Read the full statement here:

Pax Christi International Statement

On the Occasion of Pope Francis' Visit to Japan, 23-26 November 2019

The Pax Christi International movement joins the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace in welcoming the visit of Pope Francis to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During his papacy, Pope Francis has spoken strongly against nuclear weapons. It is therefore fitting that during his visit to these two cities he would call for concrete steps towards complete nuclear disarmament.

Pax Christi International (PCI) looks forward to this pastoral visit as one that will highlight not only the immorality of nuclear weapons but also the importance of nonviolence as a foundational ethic for building cultures of peace and sustainable development.

In 1945, Japan suffered a tragedy that must never happen again, but the danger that others may suffer the fate of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains great today. Hence, PCI notes with joy Pope Francis' exhortation that states should reject the very possession of nuclear weapons as well as their use. We also commend the Holy See for being among the first states to sign and ratify the new Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

As people of faith and as a global Catholic movement for peace, Pax Christi International is inspired by the powerful nonviolent witness of the hibakusha as well as other people of goodwill in Northeast Asia, the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere who continue to work nonviolently for peace and justice.

May this visit enable governments including Japan to take to heart Pope Francis' words: "Weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, create nothing but a false sense of security. They cannot constitute the basis for peaceful coexistence between members of the human family, which must rather be inspired by an ethic of solidarity."

With all this in mind, PCI earnestly requests Pope Francis to call on the government of Japan and all states in Northeast Asia to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Japan has a unique challenge to take this leadership role having suffered the nuclear attacks of 1945. Northeast Asia and the world face growing nuclear threats.

May the journey of Pope Francis catalyze a change of heart in many, and for this intention Pax Christi International holds the Pontiff's visit in prayer.