Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, has traveled to Japan on a “pilgrimage of peace” commemorating the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The pilgrimage, which the archbishop undertook last year as well, was announced Aug. 3 by the Santa Fe Archdiocese.

The attacks on the two Japanese cities — launched by the U.S. on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, in an effort to force the unconditional surrender of Japan and hasten the end of the war — killed an estimated 110,000 to 210,000 people. The true number of casualties is “probably fundamentally unknowable,” according to nuclear weapons historian Alex Wellerstein.

During the multi-day pilgrimage, Archbishop Wester and Jay Coghlan, executive director of the nonprofit Nuclear Watch New Mexico, are meeting with Japanese and Korean bishops, civic and religious leaders, and survivors of the bombings known as “hibakusha” (from a compound Japanese word for “one who suffered in the explosion”). According to the Santa Fe Archdiocese, the visit is designed to foster “dialogue and solidarity in the shared mission to eliminate nuclear weapons globally.”

Archbishop Wester shared his thoughts on the pilgrimage with OSV News in an Aug. 6 email while on the road in Japan.

This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

OSV News: What has changed since your last pilgrimage? Have you seen progress, regression or both?

Archbishop Wester: I suppose what has changed is the addition of the Gaza war protest, which tells me that people are committed to peace everywhere and at all times. So, while much is the same, there is a freshness to the events of Aug. 6 in Hiroshima, a sense that bombing here 79 years ago gives those in Hiroshima a license, if you will, to speak out about war and violence and peace.

Another feeling I picked up on … is that there is a frustration that our world leaders are not listening. The tragedy of the 200,000 killed both in Hiroshima and Nagasaki seems to fall on deaf ears.

We are now in a nuclear arms race arguably far more dangerous than the first. We see countries modernizing their nuclear arsenals and spending scads of money in what appears to be (a move toward) “nuclear weapons forever.”

This adds a sense of sadness to commemorations that overlays naturally felt sadness when remembering horrific suffering from 1945 continuing today among hibakusha.

OSV News: As more survivors pass away, are you concerned that bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be forgotten?

Archbishop Wester: Yes, I am concerned that horrors from 1945 will be forgotten because human beings do not like dwelling on tragedy and suffering; also because those who experienced horror from atomic attacks—the hibakusha—are dying out.

A recent New York Times article mentioned average age for hibakusha is 85 with hundreds dying every month. We all know George Santayana’s remark: “those who cannot remember past are condemned to repeat it.”

This has been vital role for hibakusha—reminding us all about past so it’s never repeated. This work involves commitment towards verifiable multilateral nuclear disarmament/abolition efforts honoring hibakusha striving keeping memories alive working tirelessly towards nuclear disarmament goals.

I believe we must memorialize stories through literature/museums/interviews/etc., reassuring hibakusha we’re listening/caring ensuring their stories won’t be forgotten.

OSV News: How can current generation better understand what's at stake here?

Archbishop Wester: Current generation needs listening/reflection upon hibakusha stories.

I still remember Cuban missile crisis (1962) when former Soviet Union/U.S were locked into nuclear weapon standoff recalling looking overhead checking if planes were Russian experiencing fear/anxiety momentarily felt then.

Today’s youth only hear about this crisis via history books/movies needing education regarding horrors/destructive potential behind nukes existing secretly within silos adding danger preventing visceral understanding among youth regarding present nuke threats posed universally.

Education/storytelling both important here keeping survivor accounts alive effectively putting human face upon issues rather than listing mere facts alone helping educate properly.

OSV News: What main challenges exist towards building world free from nukes?

Archbishop Wester: Main challenges towards achieving nuke-free world remain numerous.

Firstly getting people listening/comprehending humanity standing brink impending disaster convincing leaders taking action accordingly becomes crucial challenge faced currently amid ongoing arms race scenarios globally necessitating imperative measures convincing populace demanding leadership signatory status under Treaty Prohibition Nuclear Weapons initially signed Vatican lacking any armed state support despite active lobbying against treaty introduction by U.S./Britain/France atrociously evident thus far requiring majority citizenry uniting around critical cause pushing leadership decisively de-escalate/disarm multilaterally/verifiably essential steps forward urgently needed addressing current predicaments posed forth collectively recognized overall eventually accomplishing desired outcomes finally achievable ideally.

Catholic Church pro-life stance presents unique opportunity leading boldly Pope Francis unequivocally asserting immorality even possessing nukes serious assertion necessitating proactive measures adding disarmament agenda alongside church’s broader pro-life advocacy prominently emphasized importantly highlighted continually throughout future endeavors ahead ultimately ensuring safer secure prospects realized substantially achieved holistically comprehensively undertaken extensively prioritizing utmost diligence significantly furthering common good universally aspired broadly envisioned collectively pursued meaningfully altogether purposefully effectively pragmatically realistically feasible sustainably persistently robustly strategically methodically responsibly diligently resolutely faithfully ultimately resulting positively impacting global community beneficially long-term basis universally recognized substantively achieved thoroughly implemented successfully fulfilled finally 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