The Pope calls for nuclear weapons abolition, sounds caution on nuclear power

Pope Francis, speaking at Nagasaki, Japan, made a powerful speech condemning nuclear weapons, including their possession for the purpose of so-called deterrence. Here is the full text of the speech. The pope then also spoke with survivors of the 2011 triple disaster -- earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown.

Of the pope's remarks on nuclear power, the Japan Times reported:

The pope did not directly call for the abolition of nuclear power plants, but he did note that Japanese bishops have called for the “immediate abolition” of such plants since the triple meltdowns in Fukushima. 

“Our age is tempted to make technological progress the measure of human progress,” he said. “So it is important to pause and reflect on who we are … and who we want to be.

“Important decisions will have to be made about the use of natural resources, and future energy sources in particular,” he stressed.

On nuclear weapons, Pope Francis most pointedly said: "The arms race wastes precious resources that could be better used to benefit the integral development of peoples and to protect the natural environment. In a world where millions of children and families live in inhumane conditions, the money that is squandered and the fortunes made through the manufacture, upgrading, maintenance and sale of ever more destructive weapons, are an affront crying out to heaven."  And:

"Convinced as I am that a world without nuclear weapons is possible and necessary, I ask political leaders not to forget that these weapons cannot protect us from current threats to national and international security. We need to ponder the catastrophic impact of their deployment, especially from a humanitarian and environmental standpoint, and reject heightening a climate of fear, mistrust and hostility fomented by nuclear doctrines. The current state of our planet requires a serious reflection on how its resources can be employed in light of the complex and difficult implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in order to achieve the goal of an integrated human development."