24 November
Pope Francis is in Nagasaki where he called for nuclear weapons to be abolished, saying they're "an affront crying out to heaven." He will move on to Hiroshima later in the day. It's the first time in nearly 40 years a sitting pontiff is visiting the country, and the two atomic bombed cities.
Pope Francis touched down in Nagasaki on Sunday morning. The 82-year-old is known as a passionate advocate for nuclear disarmament.
He made his way to a park marking the spot where American forces dropped the bomb 74 years ago.
Despite the heavy rain, survivors of the atomic bombing and other invited guests gathered to hear his message of peace.
The attack on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, killed around 70,000 people by the end of that year.
Pope Francis said, "This place makes us deeply aware of the pain and horror that we human beings are capable of inflicting upon one another. The damaged cross and statue of Our Lady recently discovered in the Cathedral of Nagasaki remind us once more of the unspeakable horror suffered in the flesh by the victims of the bombing and their families."
The pontiff also spoke about his commitment to support the international arms control framework, including a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons. He called on world leaders to commit to the cause.
"Convinced as I am that a world without nuclear weapons is possible and necessary, I ask political leaders not to forget that these weapons cannot protect us from current threats to national and international security. We need to ponder the catastrophic impact of their deployment, especially from a humanitarian and environmental standpoint, and reject heightening a climate of fear, mistrust and hostility fomented by nuclear doctrines."—NHK
