At the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima (25 February 1981)

On Wednesday, 25 February 1981, the Holy Father visited the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, where he said, “To the Heads of State and Government, to those who hold political and economic power, I say: let us commit ourselves to peace in justice; let us make a solemn resolution now that war will never again be tolerated or seen as a means of resolving differences; let us promise our fellow men that we will work tirelessly for the disarmament and abolition of all nuclear weapons, let us replace violence and hatred with trust and concern."

War is man-made. War is the destruction of human life. War is death.

Nowhere do these truths impose themselves with such force as in this city of Hiroshima, at this Peace Monument. Two cities, will forever have their names united, two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as the only cities in the world that have suffered the bad fate of being a memorial to how man is capable of incredible destruction. Their names will always stand out as the names of the only cities of our time that were chosen to warn future generations of how war can destroy human efforts to create a world of peace.

Mr Mayor,

Dear friends present here, all of you who are listening to my voice and to whom my message will reach.

1. It is with deep emotion that I came here today as a pilgrim of peace. I wanted to make this visit to the Hiroshima Peace Monument out of a personal and intimate conviction to remember the past and commit to the future.

Let us consider together what is one of the sad undertakings of humanity and that is that throughout the entire earth's surface the names of many - too many - places are remembered above all because they witnessed the horror and suffering produced by war; the monuments to the fallen which, if on the one hand they remember the victory, on the other hand, however, they also recall the suffering and death of countless human beings; the cemeteries in which those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country or a noble cause rest and the cemeteries in which the innocent civilian victims of the destructive fury of war lie; the remains of the concentration and extermination camps in which contempt for man and his inviolable rights had reached its most unworthy and cruel expression; the battlefields where nature has mercifully healed the wounds of the earth, without however managing to erase hatred and enmity from the human history of the past. Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand out from all other places and monuments as the first victims of nuclear war. without, however, being able to erase hatred and enmity from the human history of the past. Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand out from all other places and monuments as the first victims of nuclear war. without, however, being able to erase hatred and enmity from the human history of the past. Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand out from all other places and monuments as the first victims of nuclear war.

I bow my head in the memory of thousands of men, women and children who lost their lives in a terrible moment and of those who for many years carried in their bodies and minds those germs of death which inexorably continued their process of destruction. The definitive balance sheet of the human suffering that began here has not yet been entirely drawn up nor has the overall human cost that has been paid yet been calculated, especially if we consider what nuclear war has done - and could still do - to our ideas, to our attitudes and our civilization.

2. Remembering the past is committed to the future. I cannot fail to honor and applaud the wise decision of the authorities of this city that the monument in memory of the first nuclear bombing should be a monument to peace. In doing so, the city of Hiroshima and all the people of Japan have vigorously expressed their hope for a world of peace and their belief that the man who wages war is also capable of successfully building peace. From this city, and from the event that its name recalls, a new global awareness against war and a renewed determination to work in favor of peace has arisen.

Some people, even those who were alive at the time of the events we remember today, may prefer not to remember the horror of nuclear war and its terrible consequences. Among those who have never personally experienced the reality of armed conflict between nations, there are those who may try not to even consider the very real possibility of nuclear war. Others may wish to consider nuclear power as an irreplaceable means of maintaining the balance of power through the balance of terror. However, there is no justification for not raising the problem of the responsibility of each nation and each individual in the face of possible wars and the nuclear threat.

3. Remembering the past is committing to the future. I preferred to first recall August 6, 1945 so as to be able to better grasp the meaning of today's challenge. Since that fateful day, nuclear weapons have increased in quantity and destructive power. Nuclear weapons continue to be built, tested and deployed. The full consequences of a large-scale nuclear war are impossible to predict, but even if only a portion of the available weapons were to be used, one must ask whether it is impossible to imagine the inevitable escalation and whether the complete destruction of humanity is not a possible reality. I would like to repeat here what I said at the United Nations General Assembly: “Continuous preparations for war, proven by the production of increasingly powerful and sophisticated weapons in various countries, indicate that there is a desire to be ready for war and being ready means being able to start it; they also mean that there is a risk that at any time, in any place, in any way, someone could set in motion the terrible mechanism of general destruction" (John Paul II,Teachings of John Paul II, II, 2 [1979] 529).

4. Remembering the past is committed to the future. Remember Hiroshima and abhor nuclear war. Remembering Hiroshima is committing yourself to peace. To remember what the people of this city have suffered is to renew our faith in man, in his ability to do what is good, in his freedom to choose what is right, in his determination to translate a disaster into a new beginning . In the face of the man-made calamity that is every war, we must affirm and reaffirm, again and again, that the resort to war is not inevitable or irreplaceable. Humanity is not destined for self-destruction. Differences in ideologies, aspirations and needs can and must be ironed out and resolved by means other than war and violence. Humanity has an obligation to itself to settle differences and conflicts through peaceful means. The vast spectrum of problems facing people at different stages of cultural, social, economic and political development give rise to international tensions and conflicts. It is essential for humanity that these problems are resolved in harmony with the ethical principles of fairness and justice significantly enshrined in agreements and institutions. The international community should thus give itself a system of laws to regulate international relations and maintain peace, just as the rule of law protects national order. It is essential for humanity that these problems are resolved in harmony with the ethical principles of fairness and justice significantly enshrined in agreements and institutions. The international community should thus give itself a system of laws to regulate international relations and maintain peace, just as the rule of law protects national order. It is essential for humanity that these problems are resolved in harmony with the ethical principles of fairness and justice significantly enshrined in agreements and institutions. The international community should thus give itself a system of laws to regulate international relations and maintain peace, just as the rule of law protects national order.

5. All who love life on earth must urge governments and those who make economic and social decisions to act in harmony with the calls for peace rather than out of narrow selfish interest. Peace must always be the goal, peace must be pursued and defended in all circumstances. Let us not repeat the past, a past of violence and destruction. Let's get into the one that adapts to human dignity, the only one that leads towards the true fulfillment of man's destiny, the only one that leads towards a future in which equity, justice and solidarity are reality and not just distant dreams .

6. And therefore, in this place where, thirty-five years ago, in a flash of fire the lives of so many people were extinguished, I wish to make an appeal to the whole world in the name of life, of humanity, of the future.

To the Heads of State and Government, to those who hold political and economic power, I say: let us commit ourselves to peace in justice; let us make a solemn resolution now that war will never again be tolerated or seen as a means of resolving differences; let us promise our fellow men that we will work tirelessly for the disarmament and abolition of all nuclear weapons, let us replace violence and hatred with trust and concern.

To every man and woman in this country and in the world, I say: let us assume responsibility for others and for the future without limitations of borders and social distinctions; let us educate ourselves and others on the paths of peace, so that humanity will never again become a victim of struggles between rival systems; never again will there be another war.

To young people around the world, I say: let's create together a new future of brotherhood and solidarity; let us move towards our brothers and sisters in need, let us satisfy the hunger, offer shelter to the homeless, let us free the oppressed, let us bring justice where only the voice of weapons is heard. Your young hearts have an extraordinary capacity for good and love: place them at the service of your fellow men.

To each one I repeat the words of the prophet: “They will beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks; people will no longer lift up swords against people; they will no longer practice the art of war" ( Is 2:4).

To those who believe in God, I say: let us feel strong in his strength which infinitely surpasses ours, let us remain united knowing that He calls us to unity; let us become aware of the fact that love and participation are not distant ideals, but the path towards strengthening peace, the peace of God. 

And to the Creator of nature and man, of truth and beauty, I raise a prayer:

Listen to my voice
because it is the voice of the victims
of all wars
and violence between individuals and nations;

Listen to my voice,
because it is the voice of all the children
who suffer and will suffer
whenever people place their trust
in weapons and war;

Hear my voice,
when I ask You to instill
in the hearts of all human beings
the wisdom of peace,
the strength of justice
and the joy of friendship; 

Listen to my voice,
because I speak for the multitudes of every country
and every period of history
who do not want war
and are ready to walk
the path of peace;
Listen to my voice and give us the ability
and strength to always be able to respond to hatred
with love, to injustice
with a complete dedication to justice,
to need with our own participation,
to war with peace.
O God, hear my voice and grant the world Your peace
forever .
 

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