The tram running near Nagasaki Station is seen in that Japanese city on Aug. 8, 2025. The Nagasaki city tram system commenced operations on a 3.7 km section between Nagasaki Hospital and Tsukimachi in 1915. It was devastated by the atomic bomb on August 9, 1945. Full restoration of the entire network was achieved eight years later, highlighting the city's determination to rebuild and the importance this system held for the local community. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
The U.S. archbishops participating in a symposium on nuclear weapons issues and world peace hosted by the Nagasaki Interreligious Fellowship for Peace on Aug. 7, 2025 as part of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki included from left to right, Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy and Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Those archbishops, along with Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne and Catholic university leaders and students, participated in a Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan that week. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
The U.S. archbishops participating in a symposium on nuclear weapons issues and world peace hosted by the Nagasaki Interreligious Fellowship for Peace on Aug. 7, 2025 as part of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki included from left to right, Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy and Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Those archbishops, along with Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne and Catholic university leaders and students, participated in a Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan that week. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle (second from left) poses for photos with participants, including religious leaders, at a reception following the “Interreligious Symposium on Nuclear Issues and World Peace” on August 7, 2025, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter in Nagasaki, kindergarteners deliver a pledge for peace during the 53rd Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing on the evening of August 8, 2025. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
A banner with the words “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself” (left) and thousands of handmade origami cranes (symbols of peace) are displayed at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park on August 8, 2025. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Participants in the 53rd Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing on Aug. 8, 2025 included, at center, Archbishop Francisco Escalante Molina, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to Japan, and Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle. The event was held at the Nagasaki Hypocenter Park, which is located at ground zero of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
On the evening of Aug. 8, 2025, during the Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing, the attendees offering prayers included (from center to right) Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington; and Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago. The event was held at the Nagasaki Hypocenter Park. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
On the evening of Aug. 8, 2025, during the Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle offers "Words of Comfort" during the event at the Nagasaki Hypocenter Park. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At the Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing held in Nagasaki Hypocenter Park on Aug. 8, 2025, participants in a Pilgrimage of Peace from the United States offer flowers. From left to right are Professor James L. Nolan Jr., a professor of sociology at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts; Holy Cross Father Robert A. Dowd, the president of the University of Notre Dame; Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy; and Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Shinto representatives offer a peace ritual during the Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing held in Nagasaki Hypocenter Park on Aug. 8, 2025. (Catholic Standard Photo by Mihoko Owada)
During the 53rd Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing on Aug. 8, 2025 at Nagasaki Hypocenter Park, participants including university students from the United States offer flowers to pray for the atomic bombing victims. The Nagasaki Hypocenter Park is located at ground zero of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington closely looks at the exhibition of Dr. Takashi Nagai during his visit to Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum on Aug. 8, 2025. Dr. Nagai, a physician and radiologist who cared for survivors in the aftermath of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, returned home to find the charred remains of his wife along with her melted rosary. Dr. Nagai, a convert to Catholicism, became a well-known advocate for peace and forgiveness until he died of leukemia in 1951. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
On August 8, 2025, Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico looks at the exhibits closely during his visit to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
On the rainy morning of August 9, 2025, Urakami Cathedral is seen from Heiwa Koen Dori (Peace Park Street) in the Urakami neighborhood of Nagasaki, Japan. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 2025, as people offer silent prayers in front of Nagasaki's Urakami Cathedral, two bells ring out together for the first time in 80 years. One of these bells was recast for the cathedral by American Catholics. The bells rang out on the 80th anniversary of the moment when the atomic bomb dropped by the United States exploded over Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
A woman prays during the 11 a.m. Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan on Aug. 9, 2025 when the two bells rang out together at 11:02 a.m. for the first time in 80 years. One of these bells was recast for the cathedral by American Catholics. The bells rang out on the 80th anniversary of the moment when the atomic bomb dropped by the United States exploded over Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
A photograph of the original Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, along with prayer cards, is on display in the “Atomic Bomb Relics Exhibition Room” on the first floor of the Urakami Cathedral church hall. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
A woman sings during the 11 a.m. Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan on Aug. 9, 2025 when the two bells rang out together at 11:02 a.m. for the first time in 80 years. One of these bells was recast for the cathedral by American Catholics. The bells rang out on the 80th anniversary of the moment when the atomic bomb dropped by the United States exploded over Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Students from U.S. universities hold prayer cards of Takashi and Midori Nagai they received after participating in the 11 a.m. Mass on Aug. 9, 2025 at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki that was held on the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city on Aug. 9, 1945. Dr. Takashi Nagai, a physician and radiologist who cared for survivors in the aftermath of the bombing, returned home to find the charred remains of his wife along with her melted rosary. Dr. Nagai, a convert to Catholicism, became a well-known advocate for peace and forgiveness until he died of leukemia in 1951. The couple is being considered for canonization. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At the beginning of a Peace Memorial Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 2025, on the day of the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city, Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki incenses the head of a statue of Mary that was recovered in the rubble of the original cathedral that was destroyed in the bombing there. In the background is a crucifix also recovered there in the aftermath of the bombing 80 years ago, with the head, arm and parts of the legs of the figure of Jesus missing. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Archbishop Francisco Escalante Molina, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to Japan, delivered a message from Pope Leo XIV to Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki at the beginning of the 6 p.m. Peace Memorial Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of that city. Approximately 1,200 people gathered, including about 50 participants in a Pilgrimage of Peace from the United States. Some participants joined from the parish hall venue, where the Mass was livestreamed. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki, Japan, gives the homily at a Peace Memorial Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 2025, on the day of the 8oth anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city. The concelebrants in the background include four archbishops from the United States who joined a Pilgrimage of Peace along with U.S. Catholic university and students to commemorate the anniversary and to pray and dialogue for peace and a world without nuclear weapons. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura (at center) of Nagasaki, Japan, elevates the Eucharist during a Peace Memorial Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 2025, on the day of the 8oth anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city. The concelebrants at the Mass included four U.S. archbishops participating in a Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At center to the left of Archbishop Nakamura is Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago. The concelebrants also included, at right next to Nagasaki’s archbishop and the assisting deacon, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington; Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
After a Peace Memorial Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city, people participated in a torchlight procession to Nagasaki Peace Park. The head of a statue of Mary recovered in the rubble of the original cathedral after the bombing was carried in the procession. Joining the procession were U.S. college students participating in a Pilgrimage of Peace to commemorate the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)
On the morning of August 10, 2025, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle and Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico stand in front of Oura Cathedral in Nagasaki after celebrating Mass. Oura Cathedral is dedicated to the 26 martyrs of Japan, and was also the stage for an event which became known as the “Discovery of Christians” of Japan. At the time when it was constructed, foreigners residing in Japan were allowed to be Christian, but for Japanese people it was still forbidden. The “discovery of Christians in Japan” refers to the moment in 1865 when, after over 250 years of secrecy and persecution, Japanese Christians revealed their continued faith to foreign missionaries, most notably Father Bernard Petitjean, at the Oura Church in Nagasaki. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
On August 10, 2025, Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, celebrates Mass for pilgrims of peace at Oura Cathedral in Nagasaki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the participants are U.S. college students joining the “Pilgrimage of Peace” commemorating the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
U.S. college students talk with Kojiro Moriuchi (second from right) after participating in Mass at Oura Cathedral in Nagasaki on the morning of Aug. 10, 2025. Moriuchi's great-grandmother played a pivotal role in the discovery of hidden Japanese Christians who had kept the faith despite years of persecution there, an event that occurred at Oura Cathedral in 1865. Her figure is carved on the far left of the relief behind them. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
During the symposium “Walking Together: A Gathering of Pilgrims for Peace” at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on August 10, 2025, students from Sophia University in Tokyo and from U.S. universities report on their August 8 dialogue and joint statement. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At the symposium “Walking Together: A Gathering of Pilgrims for Peace” at Urakami Cathedral on August 10, the Youth Ministry of the Archdiocese of Nagasaki gives a presentation on the life of Dr. Takashi Nagai. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
At the conclusion of the symposium on “Walking Together: A Gathering of Pilgrims for Peace,” Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, offers greetings and prayers at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki on August 10, 2025. The symposium sponsored by the Archdiocese of Nagasaki was organized by the Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons, which consists of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the Archdiocese of Seattle, the Diocese of Hiroshima, and the Archdiocese of Nagasaki, in collaboration with Notre Dame University in Indiana, Georgetown University in Washington, Loyola University in Chicago, Marquette University in Wisconsin, Sophia University in Tokyo, Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University, and Nagasaki Protestant universities including Kwassui Women’s University and Chinzei Gakuin University, and the Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
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