The death of Pope Francis was mourned across Japan on Monday by those who had met him during his 2019 visit to the country, including survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings and 2011 northeastern Japan earthquake and tsunami.
During the first papal visit to Japan in 38 years, the pope, known for his strong advocacy for the sanctity of life, called for the elimination of nuclear weapons in addresses delivered in the two atomic-bombed cities.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, head of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said he felt the pope's "gentle nature."
"I hoped he would recover and continue advocating for peace around the world," said the 83-year-old, who had handed a letter to the pope at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima at the time, asking him to call on world leaders to stop war.
Kayoko Mori, an 82-year-old Catholic atomic bomb survivor who also met the pope in Hiroshima, said, "Seeing him call for the abolition of nuclear weapons made me feel deeply that he was on our side. I'm at a loss for words."
Shigemitsu Tanaka, 84, who attended, as chair of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, the pope's speech in the city, recalled that the pontiff had prayed for a long time for atomic bomb survivors and peace despite the heavy rain.
"His call for nuclear abolition was inspiring. It's truly regrettable that someone who worked so hard for peace is now gone," Tanaka said.
In 2019, the pontiff also met the victims of the Fukushima nuclear crisis, triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern region in March 2011.
Tokuun Tanaka, 50, a Buddhist priest from Fukushima Prefecture who was forced to evacuate due to the nuclear disaster, recalled how the pope exuded "a warmth and greatness that seemed to embrace everything" during a gathering with disaster survivors in Tokyo.
Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, who remembered the pontiff's sincere attitude during his meeting with disaster survivors, said the pope believed that "human life is a gift from God and must be protected."
Kikuchi, a native of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan who has been actively involved in disaster recovery, had been scheduled to meet with the pope in late March, but the meeting was canceled due to the pope's declining health.
"He was trying to reshape the modern Church. I had hoped he would recover and continue that work," Kikuchi said.
Earlier this year, Kikuchi personally delivered a letter of joy from the pope to Iwao Hakamata, who was recently acquitted after spending nearly half a century on death row following a conviction for a quadruple murder.
Hakamata, 89, was baptized as a Catholic in 1984 while in detention and attended a Mass held by the pontiff in Tokyo in 2019. His sister, Hideko, 92, recalled that being invited to the Mass was "very reassuring."
© KYODO
11 Comments
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nickybutt
So, inspiring that there are still aorund 12,100 nuclear warheads around the world.
It seems that advocating for peace didn't work so well, what with Russia invading Ukraine, Israel bombing Gaza to dust and committing genocide.
Words mean nothing without action.
GuruMick
Unlike past centuries, the Pope does not command an army or can commit a nation state to war.
He has only words.
Tokyo Guy
I'm not religious, but for everyone hammering the guy because there are still wars and unpleasant things going on: take a look back through human history. This is what we are. It's our nature to be destructive, that's why we have to be reminded to not do it, be that by our family, a church, another group, or whatever.
Sometimes advocating for decent behaviour is the best we can do.
I just saw a list of the most likely replacements, and there are some uber-conservative types on there, including an American who will presumably take his orders from Trump (a man who thinks he's God), not from God himself.
I grew up being told that religion was about helping the less fortunate, and the late pope at least seemed to be inclined towards doing that.
WoodyLee
May he and all peace makers that departed R I Peace.
Could have done more to end the two wars in Palestine and Ukraine along with other conflicts.
WoodyLee
ONLY PEACE LOVING leaders along with the ordinaries should be allowed to attend the Pope Funeral, those with Blood on their hands should be BARED.
Cephus
"I just saw a list of the most likely replacements, and there are some uber-conservative types on there, including an American who will presumably take his orders from Trump (a man who thinks he's God), not from God himself."
Less emotions more reasoning! Judge not and you won't be judged.
HopeSpringsEternal
Catholic Church, headed by the Pope a very powerful institution in many respects. First, massive land and financial holdings. Second, huge influence over about 20% of World's population, including 22% within the US.
No question DJT won in Nov. due to massive spike in Catholic support, winning by 10pts vs. losing by 10pts to Biden, who's a Catholic, in 2020. Catholic vote decided the US election, including their many Hispanic voters.
While true, above is 'soft' power and influence, but it was Pope Francis's influence that weighed heavily on DJT to oppose the war in Ukraine, which is majority Catholic.
Pope Francis deeply believed in Peace and for that, RIP!!
Negative Nancy
I don't believe in god, but Pope Francis seemed to be a good man at heart.
wallace
In 2023, Catholics accounted for approximately 17.7% of the world's population. This translates to roughly 1.39 billion Catholics out of a total global population of around 8 billion people.
Not all Catholics are practicing ones. The views of Catholics differ greatly depending on which continent they live on. African Catholics opposed the liberal views of Pope Francis.
Catholic women in America have launched a strike against the Catholic Church to protest the lack of progress in recognizing women's roles and leadership within the church. This strike, organized by groups like the Women's Ordination Conference, involves withholding labor, time, and financial resources from the church during Lent as a form of protest.
HopeSpringsEternal
Pope Francis made HUGE efforts and $support to mobilize the Catholic Church to help Catholic Ukrainians escape ravages of war in Ukraine, helping untold numbers resettle safely across mainly Europe.
Pope Francis was a man of peace and due to his heroic efforts and leadership many lives were saved/see above. RIP!
Dragon
Ukraine’s Catholics express hurt over the late Pope’s war stance. The Roman Catholic Pontiff had not taken Ukraine’s side in the war.
Many Ukrainians were disappointed he did not condemn Putin for his mass slaughter and destruction.
Most Ukrainians are Orthodox, about 10% are Catholic.