Pope Francis calls on the G7 Summit to reject nuclear weapons

by time news

2023-05-20 17:07:00

May 20, 2023 / 10:07 a.m.

Pope Francis has reiterated his condemnation and rejection of nuclear weapons, in a letter sent to the Bishop of Hiroshima, Bishop Alexis-Mitsuru Shirahama, on the occasion of the G7 Summit taking place in this Japanese city.

From May 19 to 21, the leaders of seven of the world’s economic powers meet in Hiroshima to discuss, in eight sessions, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, among other issues.

Thus, in addition to Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States -which make up the G7-, a political representation of the European Union and leaders of other Asian countries invited by the host government also attend.

It is within this framework that Pope Francis has sent a letter, dated May 19, to the Bishop of Hiroshima, the city on which the first atomic bomb fell on August 6, 1945.

In his letter, the Pontiff recalls the impression that his visit to the Peace Monument left on him during his trip to Japan in 2019.

“Standing there in silent prayer and thinking of the innocent victims of the nuclear attack decades ago, I wanted to reiterate the firm conviction of the Holy See that ‘the use of atomic energy for warfare is, today more than ever, a crime. not only against the dignity of human beings, but against any possible future of our common home’”, he points out.

In this sense, he adds that recent events such as the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine make it clear “that only together, in fraternity and solidarity, can our human family seek to heal wounds and build a just and peaceful world.”

Francis indicates that “it has become increasingly evident that in the multipolar world of the 21st century, the search for peace is closely related to the need for security and reflection on the most effective means to guarantee it.”

“Such reflection must necessarily consider the fact that global security must be comprehensive, capable of encompassing issues such as access to food and water, respect for the environment, health care, energy sources, and equitable distribution. of the world’s goods.”

Likewise, “a comprehensive concept of security can serve to anchor multilateralism and international cooperation between governmental and non-governmental actors, based on the profound interconnection between these issues, which makes it necessary to jointly adopt a multilateral cooperation approach responsible”.

In that sense, he writes, “Hiroshima, as a ‘symbol of memory,’ vigorously proclaims the insufficiency of nuclear weapons to respond effectively to today’s great threats to peace and to guarantee national and international security.”

“We only need to consider the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental impact that will result from the use of nuclear weapons,” says Pope Francis, as well as “the effects of the continuing climate of fear and suspicion generated by their mere possession, which compromises the growth of a climate of mutual trust and dialogue.

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“In this context,” he says, “nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction represent a risk multiplier that offers only an illusion of peace.”

The Holy Father assured his prayers “so that the G7 Summit in Hiroshima demonstrates a vision of the future, by laying the foundations for lasting peace and stable and sustainable security in the long term.”

It is expected that at the end of the G7 Summit, the participating leaders will issue a joint communiqué.

Eduardo Berdejo is a graduate of the National University of San Marcos (Peru). He has been part of the ACI Prensa team since 2001.

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