Vatican City, Nov 26, 2019 / 13:05 pm
Pope Francis reemphasized opposition to nuclear weapons, the global arms trade, and capital punishment on the plane ride back to Rome following his apostolic visit to Japan and Thailand.
During his visit, Francis visited both Hiroshima and Nagasaki--locations where the United States dropped atomic weapons at the conclusion of World War II. Francis said he found that Hiroshima was "a true human catechesis on cruelty: cruelty."
"There I have reiterated that the use of nuclear weapons is immoral," said Pope Francis. "This must go in the Catechism of the Catholic Church." The pontiff clarified that he is opposed not only to the use of these weapons, but also a country possessing them. A country possessing nuclear weapons could one day be ruled by someone who could use them to destroy humanity, he said.
Pope Francis also was cautious on the topic of nuclear power, saying that he does not believe it should be used until it can be made safer, due to the potential for serious human and environmental costs of a disaster.