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Pope to list nuclear weapons as immoral in Catholic manual by Staff Writers Aboard The Papal Plane (AFP) Nov 26, 2019 Pope Francis announced on Tuesday he would declare the use and possession of nuclear weapons "immoral" in the Catholic Church's official manual, after visiting the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki where atomic bombs were dropped during World War II. The cities are the only areas to have been targeted by nuclear weapons, the 1945 attacks by the United States killing 224,000 people. The catechism is the church's official instruction book, which summarises the principles of the faith. "I have said that the use of nuclear weapons is immoral," the pontiff told reporters during his flight back to Rome. "This must go into the catechism of the Catholic Church, not just use but also possession," he said, adding that "a government's madness can destroy humanity". In 2018, Pope Francis added a categorical opposition to the death penalty to the document. Francis criticised international organisations such as the United Nations Security Council for not taking decisive action to reduce arms or avoid wars. He also blamed "the hypocrisy of those who produce weapons", referring to Christian countries in Europe. "They talk peace and they live for weapons, it's called hypocrisy," he said. "A nation must have the courage to say, I cannot speak of peace because my economy is gaining a lot with weapons manufacturing." On the subject of nuclear energy, he stopped short of calling for a complete phase-out but said he believed its use came with risks. Francis has long hankered after a trip to Japan ever since he was a young missionary. The pope also reiterated his dream of travelling to China, saying he loves the country and would like to go to Beijing.
In Hiroshima, pope assails 'crime' of nuclear weapons Nagasaki, Japan (AFP) Nov 24, 2019 Pope Francis Sunday described the use of nuclear bombs as "a crime", as he took his appeal for an end to atomic weapons to Hiroshima in an emotional meeting with survivors. The visit came hours after a highly symbolic stop in the city of Nagasaki, where Francis railed against all nuclear weapons, including their use as a deterrent. At least 140,000 people died after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, with another 74,000 killed after a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days ... read more
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