On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Pope Leo XIV paused to honor the memory of the tens of thousands who were killed or injured on August 6, 1945.
He also reminded the world that, in just three days, we will mark another somber milestone: the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
Reflecting on these tragedies, the Pope emphasized that even after eight decades, “those tragic events remain a universal warning against the devastation caused by war, and particularly by nuclear weapons.”
Pope Leo expressed hope that today’s world marked by deep divisions and deadly conflicts will abandon its false sense of security “based on the threat of mutual destruction,” and instead embrace justice, open dialogue, and a renewed trust in human fraternity.
On August 6, 1945, during the final stages of World War II, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb used in warfare on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
The bomb carried by the B-29 Super fortress Enola Gay, unleashed unprecedented destruction.
The explosion leveled the city, and by the end of that year, an estimated 140,000 people had died many from the initial blast, others from injuries and radiation-related illnesses in the weeks and months that followed.
By Vatican
6th Aug 2025
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