Atomic bomb

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A view of the Urakami cathedral in Nagasaki on Nov. 23, 2019. Inset: The ruined church after the bombing of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.

U.S. Catholics fund replacement for cathedral bell destroyed in atomic bombing of Nagasaki

Aug 24, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, U.S. Catholics helped fund the replacement of... Read more

A Catholic Church in Nagasaki, destroyed by the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing of the city. Public domain

Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki killed two-thirds of the city’s Catholics 78 years ago

Aug 9, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

Since the 16th century, Nagasaki has been an important center of Catholicism in Japan, initially evangelized by Jesuit and Franciscan... Read more

The atomic cloud over Hiroshima, Aug. 6, 1945.

The Miracle of Hiroshima – Jesuits survived the atomic bomb thanks to the rosary

Aug 9, 2015

Seventy years ago, the only wartime use of nuclear weapons took place in the Aug. 6 attack on Hiroshima and... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight en route to South Korea on Aug. 14, 2014.

'No to war!' – Pope pushes for nuclear disarmament on atomic bomb anniversary

Aug 9, 2015

By Elise Harris

On Sunday Pope Francis said the “horrific” atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the icon of man’s destructive misuse... Read more

Ruins of Nagasaki, shortly after the Aug. 9, 1945 atomic bombing of the city the United States. Public Domain, via National Archives and Records Administration.

Tough lessons to learn from Hiroshima and Nagasaki: just war, nuclear disarmament

Aug 6, 2015

By Kevin J. Jones

The 70th anniversary of the US atomic strikes on Japan has prompted reflection, commemoration, and debate about the ethics of... Read more