The Evangelical Pope | Remembering the Past is a Commitment to the Future.

Each week, we let Saint Pope John Paul II share meaningful signposts to spark socio-economic resolves through justice and righteousness combined with mercy and compassion; in short, love.

               “4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many people.

               They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.

               Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.“
               __ Isaiah 2: 4

Hiroshima, Japan, 25 February 1981 | War is the work of man. War is the destruction of human life. War is death.

Nowhere are these truths made more apparent than in Hiroshima, in this very Monument to Peace. Two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will be forever linked by the darkest chapter in human history. They are the only cities in the world to have experienced such devastating destruction, serving as a stark reminder of humanity's capacity for immense suffering. For all eternity, their names will be etched in our collective memory as a warning to future generations that war can undo all human progress toward building a peaceful world.

Mr. Mayor, dear friends, and everyone who's listening to my voice and receiving my message:

1. Today, I come here with great emotion, a pilgrim of peace. I felt compelled to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial because I firmly believe that remembering the past is a commitment to the future.

Together, we acknowledge that one of humanity's darkest achievements is that across the globe, we honor the names of too many places mainly because they've witnessed the atrocities and suffering of war. These commemorations, which celebrate victory on one side, also recognize the suffering and loss of countless people. We have cemeteries where those who sacrificed their lives for their country or a noble cause are laid to rest, as well as those where innocent civilians, victims of war's destructive force, are buried. We recall concentration and extermination camps, where humanity's contempt for its own rights reached a horrific low. Battlefields, though nature has healed their wounds, remain a haunting reminder of the past's hatred and hostility. But above all, Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand out as the first victims of nuclear war, forever etched in human history.

My head is bowed as I remember the thousands of men, women, and children who lost their lives in that devastating moment or who, for many years, carried the seeds of death in their bodies and minds, ultimately continuing to destroy. We still need to determine the full extent of human suffering that began here. The total human cost remains uncalculated, especially when we consider what nuclear war has done to our ideals, attitudes, and society, and what it may still do.

2. Remembering the past is a commitment to the future. I want to honor and applaud the wise decision by the city's authorities to make the memorial to the first nuclear bomb a symbol of peace. By doing so, Hiroshima and all of Japan have shown a strong desire for a peaceful world and a conviction that those who make war can also build peace. From this city and its history, a new global awareness against war has emerged. We need a firm resolve to work for peace.

Some people, even those who lived through the events we recall, may prefer to avoid thinking about the horror of nuclear war and its devastating consequences. For those who haven't experienced the reality of armed conflict between nations firsthand, some would rather ignore the possibility of nuclear war altogether. Others view nuclear capabilities as a necessary tool for maintaining a balance of power through mutual deterrence. However, there's no excuse for not addressing the question of individual and national responsibility in the face of potential wars and the nuclear threat.

3. Remembering the past is a commitment to the future. I recall the events of August 6, 1945, to help us better understand the current challenge. Since that fateful day, nuclear arsenals have grown in number and destructive power. The production, testing, and deployment of atomic weapons continue. We can't predict the full consequences of a large-scale nuclear war. Still, even if the military uses only part of its available arsenal, we must ask ourselves if we're aware of the spiral this could trigger and if humanity’s complete destruction isn't a real possibility. That's why I want to repeat what I said before the United Nations General Assembly: "The ongoing preparations for war, evident in the production of increasingly numerous, more powerful, and sophisticated weapons in several countries, show a desire to be prepared for war. And being prepared means being in a position to provoke it. It also means risking that the terrible mechanism of widespread destruction can be set off at any time, anywhere, in any way.” (Address to the UN General Assembly, October 2, 1979, No. 10; L’Osservatore Romano, Spanish Language Edition, October 14, 1979, page 13).

4. Remembering the past is a commitment to the future. To recall Hiroshima is to condemn nuclear war. To remember Hiroshima is to pledge ourselves to peace. To recall that the city’s people suffered is to renew our faith in humanity, our capacity for good, our freedom to choose what's right, and our determination to turn disaster into a new beginning. Confronted with the human catastrophe that is all war, we repeatedly reaffirm that waging war is not inevitable or unalterable. Self-destruction is not our fate. Clashes between ideologies, aspirations, and needs can and must be regulated and resolved through means other than war and violence. Humanity is duty-bound to resolve differences and conflicts peacefully. The vast array of problems that affect many peoples at various cultural, social, and economic levels gives rise to international tension and conflict. We must address these problems for humanity's sake, guided by the ethical principles of fairness and justice, safeguarded by key agreements and institutions. A system of laws should give the international community a mandate that governs international relations and maintains peace, just as legal norms protect national order.

5. Those who value life on earth should urge governments and decision-makers in economic and social fields to act in line with the demands of peace, rather than narrow individual interests. Peace must always be the goal, pursued and protected in all circumstances. Let's not repeat the past, marked by violence and destruction. Instead, let's take the difficult path of peace, the only approach that upholds human dignity and leads to the fullness of human destiny. This is the only path to a future where equity, justice, and solidarity are realities, not just distant aspirations.

6. And so, we find ourselves in this place where, 35 years ago, a tragedy shattered the lives of so many people in an instant. I call on the entire world in the name of life and humanity; in the name of the future:

To the Heads of State and Government, who hold political and economic power, I say:

               Let’s commit ourselves to peace through justice.

               Let us make a solemn decision now, ensuring that war is never tolerated or sought as a means of resolving differences.

               Let's commit to working tirelessly with our fellow humans for disarmament and banning nuclear weapons: let's swap violence and hatred for trust and appreciation.

To all the men and women of this country and the world, I say:

               Let's take responsibility for each other and the future, without letting borders or social differences hold us back.

               Let's learn about and promote the principles of peace, so humanity can avoid being caught up in conflicts between different systems.

               May there never be war.

To young people everywhere, I say:

               Join together to build a brighter future of unity and community.

               Take care of our brothers and sisters in need, feed the hungry, welcome the homeless, provide freedom to the oppressed, bring justice where injustice reigns, and peace where only weapons speak.

               Your young hearts possess an extraordinary capacity for goodness and love. Use them to serve your fellow humans.

To all, I repeat the words of the Prophet:

“They will make plowshares with their swords, and pruning hooks with their spears. Nation will not raise a sword against nation, nor will they train for war” (Isaiah 2:4).

To those who believe in God, I say:

               Let us be firm in the strength that infinitely surpasses us.

               Let us unite, knowing that He calls us to unity.

               Let us be aware that loving and sharing are not distant ideals, but rather the path to permanent peace —the peace of God.

7. And to the CREATOR of nature and of humanity, truth and beauty, I pray:

               Listen to my voice. It's the voice of all those who have suffered in wars and conflicts between individuals and nations.

               Listen to my voice. It's the voice of every child who suffers and will suffer when people put their faith in violence and war.

               Listen to my voice. I implore you to instill in the hearts of all people the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice, and the joy of unity.

               Listen to my voice. I speak for the countless people of all nations and all eras who do not want war and are willing to walk the paths of peace.

               Listen to my voice. Give us the wisdom and strength to respond to hate with love, injustice with unwavering commitment to justice, need with generous sharing, and war with peaceful resolve.

Oh, God! Please hear my voice and bring eternal peace to the world.

Full transcript translated from Spanish

VIAJE APOSTÓLICO A EXTREMO ORIENTE

DISCURSO DEL SANTO PADRE JUAN PABLO II EN EL «PEACE MEMORIAL PARK» Hiroshima, miércoles 25 de febrero de 1981

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/es/speeches/1981/february/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19810225_giappone-hiroshima-memorial.html