Hiroshima, Japan, Jul 25, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Catholic bishops in Japan have released a message for the 60th anniversary of the World War II atomic bomb droppings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki next month calling for a strong commitment of Catholics to peace.
The anniversary of the 1945 bombings, which ended WWII, is scheduled to be held from August 6th through 15th, with a special Mass at Hiroshima’s city Cathedral on the 6th, celebrated by Bishop Joseph Atsumi Misue of Hiroshima.
In their message, the bishops said that, "The Catholic Church in Japan must be conscious of its prophetic role, both in the protection of human life as well as in asking forgiveness from God and from all those people who had to endure immense suffering during World War II."
Likewise, the bishops urged members of Japanese faith communities to "intensify their prayers for peace in the world, and to promote concrete initiatives for peaceful solutions to conflict.”
“The Japanese people”, it continued, “have learned to accept their history, made up of invasions and violent colorizations. Let us reflect on all this and again undertake the journey."