On the 80th anniversary of the August 1945 atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, churches and communities across the world deepened their calls for peace and for a nuclear weapons-free world.
An estimated 150,000 to 250,000 people died in the bombings of the two Japanese cities. Many of the deaths were instantaneous, while others died years later due to the radiation.
Catholic bishops joined in a pilgrimage of peace to Japan coordinated by the Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons. Throughout a five-day visit, the bishops, along with a delegation of pilgrims, celebrated mass, participated in dialogue on Catholic ethics and nuclear weapons, and visited historical sites and museums.
