A Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan in August 2025 coinciding with the 80th anniversaries of the United States dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and on Nagasaki included four U.S. archbishops, along with leaders and students from U.S. Catholic universities.
The pilgrimage participants included Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle, and Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, whose archdiocese is home to the Los Alamos Laboratory, where key research was done in the development of the nuclear bombs.
The hosts of the pilgrimage were Bishop Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama of Hiroshima and Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki. The Partnership for a World without Nuclear Weapons – a collaboration of the dioceses of Santa Fe, Seattle, Hiroshima and Nagasaki – coordinated the pilgrimage, which was organized under the theme of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The Pilgrimage of Peace was sponsored by participating Catholic universities, including Georgetown University in Washington, Loyola University Chicago, the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Marquette University in Wisconsin, Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University, and Sophia University in Tokyo.
The pilgrimage participants took part in dialogues, interreligious gatherings, prayer services and Masses to pray together for peace and for a world without nuclear weapons.
Four students from Georgetown University who joined the Pilgrimage for Peace to Japan were interviewed by the Catholic Standard via email, and they offered reflections on their experiences in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the 80th anniversaries of when atomic bombs were dropped on those cities on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945.
The Georgetown University students participating in the Pilgrimage of Peace included:
- Luke Hughes, who is a junior at Georgetown in the Walsh School of Foreign Service studying science, technology, and international affairs with minors in history and Australian studies. He is studying abroad this semester in Sydney, Australia. Hughes is from Lake Forest, Illinois, and attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, the largest Jesuit high school in the country. This summer, he served as the regulatory and government affairs intern for LanzaJet, a sustainable aviation fuels company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, where he got to work on a project pertaining to Japanese feedstocks and the country’s renewable energy capacity.
- Ella Lowry, who is a senior at Georgetown University and is originally from Mascoutah, Illinois, a small town near St. Louis. Lowry is 21 years old and is majoring in biology and minoring in theology and religious studies, and she recently applied to dental school.
- Sean Moran, who is a senior at Georgetown University and grew up in Queens, New York. Moran is 21 years old and is majoring in government and minoring in economics and journalism.
- Keira Ferrell, who is a senior at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service majoring in international history with a concentration in human rights history and minoring in psychology. Ferrell, who is 21, grew up in Irvine, California. During her junior year, she was a student fellow at Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. She has also been involved with Catholic retreats and interfaith clubs at the university.
Here are the questions emailed to the Georgetown students about their experiences at the Pilgrimage for Peace, and their responses.
Why was it important for the group from Georgetown to join this pilgrimage, how did this coincide with Georgetown’s Catholic and Jesuit identity?
Luke Hughes: “Back in late April/early May, Georgetown’s vice president for Mission and Ministry, Father Mark Bosco, asked four students involved with Catholic Ministry on campus to participate in this pilgrimage. The four of us – three seniors and one junior – come from all parts of the country and different backgrounds but all are involved with Catholic life at Georgetown in some capacity. This is why we were asked to participate.
“It was so important that Georgetown joined this pilgrimage for several reasons. First of all, Georgetown is a school with such a global outlook. The school is constantly seeing how it can reach parts of the world it has not engaged much with, forming new relationships and partnerships along the way. Given that it’s the oldest Catholic and Jesuit school in the U.S., it was imperative for Georgetown to be a part of this cohort visiting Japan, a country with a rich Catholic history. Through projects such as GU272, Georgetown has demonstrated that it is rooted in its Jesuit values to respond to history and not ignore it. This pilgrimage was just another way that Georgetown aspires to give opportunities to its students where they can learn about the past, meet the people affected by actions such as the dropping of the atomic bombings, and return to campus with a renewed understanding of how to choose a life dedicated to service to the world.”
Ella Lowry: “The Jesuit values essential to Georgetown were ever-present within this pilgrimage. Walking through the Nagatsuka novitiate where Jesuit Father Pedro Arrupe administered aid to victims of the Nagasaki bombing, I engaged in discussion about what “People for Others” truly means. “Community in Diversity” presented itself in the conversations shared with our Japanese counterparts both in formal dialogue settings as well as time spent together outside of structured events, such as through sharing meals together. These are just two examples of countless instances in which the values that are fundamental to Georgetown’s identity were abundantly present.
“To be able to engage in conversations with people from various backgrounds and cultures was an experience for which I am forever grateful and something for which my Jesuit education prepared me. This type of dialogue is fundamental to Georgetown’s Catholic and Jesuit identity, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been part of this experience.”
Sean Moran: “I believe that it was important for Georgetown students to join because we sit at the center of American government. Being in D.C., Georgetown has a lot of influence over politics that can affect the world. Georgetown’s calling is to take care of individuals and all human life. It is in our mission to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used, because they cause death and destruction. It is up to Georgetown as an institution to step up and let Congress know that it is vital that we work with international partners to find a path for disarmament.”
Keira Ferrell: “As a Catholic and Jesuit university located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown has a unique responsibility to reflect on the past decisions of our political leaders and form leaders who will influence the decisions made today. In addition to being deeply in touch with U.S. politics and government, Georgetown has a global emphasis, particularly through its Walsh School of Foreign Service. Because of Georgetown’s unique location in the nation’s capital and its commitment to global service, I think it was important for Georgetown to be among the Jesuit universities participating in this pilgrimage.
“Participating in this pilgrimage coincided with Georgetown’s identity on both a broader Catholic level and a more specific Jesuit level. As a Catholic institution, Georgetown is a representative of the Catholic faith and Christ’s messages, including the social doctrine of the Church. I felt that this pilgrimage was a unique opportunity to reflect on how the world failed to live up to integral principles of Catholic social teaching in 1945 and the years after the bombings — namely the dignity of every human being and the preferential option for the poor/those most suffering — and how we, as students of a Catholic institution, can do everything in our ability to make sure such a gross violation of human dignity does not occur again and to open our eyes and hearts to those most in need in our world.
“Additionally, I want to highlight the importance of one Jesuit value to this pilgrimage — interreligious understanding. At Georgetown, our campus ministry is made up of chaplains with diverse religious backgrounds, and we are invited to interact with chaplains of different faiths and to learn about the faith traditions of our fellow students. Already having this admiration for interfaith understanding was incredibly important for going to Japan since Christianity is a minority there. Thus, it meant that we were able to find deep beauty in the ways in which different religions honored the victims of the atomic bombs, and it gave us prior experience in discussing faith with those of different faiths.”
What moments during the Pilgrimage of Peace did you find most inspiring, and why?
Luke Hughes: “The most inspiring moment of the trip, in particular, without a doubt, was the dialogue we had on Friday Aug. 8 in Nagasaki. It was four hours long. The U.S. and Japanese students (about 30 students total) were broken up into different groups and discussed what we had learned so far throughout the week, how we as two technologically advanced countries can move forward knowing this history and the impacts of the bombings, what is necessary to prevent future conflict, and other questions. This was so impactful because I could hear directly from the Japanese students about the peace they want to see in the future. The ironic thing is, and I made sure to mention this a few times, is that we may be the exact policymakers and religious leaders who make that peace possible. It was so inspiring to see how despite the language barriers, we could still find so many similarities in how we think the U.S. and Japan could work together to prevent future use of atomic weapons and other destructive military technologies.
“Other than that dialogue, I also thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Jesuit novitiate in Hiroshima where Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J. tended to victims of the bombing. I have been learning about Father Arrupe and his work for several years now, so to visit that site in person was truly moving.”
Ella Lowry: “There were more moments of inspiration than I can count. Without a doubt, participating in the student dialogue session was incredibly inspiring, as it provided us with the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with students from universities in both the United States and Japan. It was a remarkable experience to hear from and learn from other students.
“While there were countless moments of inspiration during organized events of the pilgrimage, I also found that so many inspiring moments came at unexpected moments. For example, walking through the Nagasaki Peace Park with fellow students from Georgetown and Marquette on August 9, the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, a man approached us and handed each of us a paper crane, explaining that he had folded 1,000 paper cranes to hand out to people that he passed that day as a symbol of peace.
“Another time, as we watched the official commemoration ceremony in Nagasaki on August 9, a Japanese woman noticed our attempts at using a translation app to follow along with a speech and, without speaking a word, handed us her program, pointing out the printed English translation. Seeing young children participate in commemorative events and Masses was just another glimpse of the spirit of hope that is passed down from generation to generation, ensuring that the victims and the effects of the bombs are never forgotten. It was abundantly clear during our time that the spirit of the pilgrimage was not exclusive to those involved in the pilgrimage, which I found beautiful.
“Lastly, the Mass at the Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki was one of the most moving parts of the pilgrimage for me. At the front of the church was the surviving piece of a (crucifix with the) crucified Jesus missing an arm and parts of each leg. In his homily, Archbishop Nakamura reminded us that we must live as the hands of Jesus, stating: ‘Let us use our hands, feet, and minds for their original purpose and mission.’ Hearing this, I was reminded of the importance of using my faith as a guide in addressing injustices.”
Sean Moran: “The moment that I found most inspiring was the dialogue between the U.S. and Japanese students. As an American, I had a sense of shame and remorse because my nation was responsible for the harm that was brought upon the Japanese people. However, through dialogue, I learned about the love and respect that the Japanese people have for us. They forgave us for one of the greatest sins that was done against humanity. This unconditional love and forgiveness inspired me and taught me that our future is bright because this generation is focused on peace and reconciliation.”
Keira Ferrell: “One of the most inspiring moments of the pilgrimage was the Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki. This Mass took place on the evening of August 9, 80 years since the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city. Urakami Cathedral itself had been almost completely destroyed during the bombing since it was close to the hypocenter, but it had been subsequently rebuilt. Two important centerpieces during this Mass were two surviving artifacts from the bombing: a crucifix without a head, one arm, and missing both feet, and the head of a statue of Mary, missing both eyes. In a reflection on these two artifacts during his homily, the archbishop of Nagasaki spoke of how we needed to be Christ’s arms and feet and Mary’s eyes, going forth from a moment of despair and utter destruction to live out a life of solidarity and service to others.
“I found this connection between suffering and service to be incredibly impactful, and it gave me a sense of hope but also responsibility. The Mass concluded with a procession of the atomic bombed head of Mary from Urakami Cathedral to the hypocenter of the atomic bomb. The procession itself was incredibly moving – everyone walking together in solidarity to remember the destruction humans are able to inflict on each other – but I was even more inspired by a random interaction I had during the procession. A young seminarian who was 20 from the Archdiocese of Nagasaki and who had lived in Nagasaki his whole life came up to me during the procession, and we began talking about our backgrounds and the importance of this commemoration. It was incredibly beautiful that although we had never met each other before, we were connected through a common faith and thus had a deep and meaningful conversation about our lives and desire to make sure what happened in Nagasaki never happens again.
“In general, some of the most inspiring moments during the pilgrimage were moments like these – random moments of talking with Japanese students and realizing that our hopes and desires for the world were similar. Although I had previously understood on an intellectual level the Catholic social teaching principle of solidarity, I had never felt it so authentically as during this pilgrimage.”
Did you get to meet any atomic bombing survivors, and if so, what was that experience like?
Luke Hughes: “While I did not get to shake the hands of any survivors, we heard from several about their stories. These were some of the most impactful moments of the pilgrimage. Being able to see and hear the humans behind the bombings is something I will never forget. To hear about how siblings rushed to help each other, parents went out looking for their lost children, and all the other emotional memories really made me think about the ethics involved in technology. Before the trip, I was interested in a career in aerospace and defense. After this experience, I am not so sure. That is how impactful the week in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was – it changed my outlook on what I want to do with my life.”
Ella Lowry: “We heard testimonies from hibakusha and learned about their experiences. I found it heartbreaking to hear the stories of those that lost everything, but I was also inspired by their commitment to ensuring that such a tragedy never occurs again. To hear from the men and women that have endured such pain yet dedicated their lives to ensuring that no human being ever suffers in the same way again is something that I truly cannot put into words.”
Sean Moran: “I met with a hibakusha at Urakami Cathedral for a brief moment. She gave a speech in front of all of us, and I wanted to thank her for her story and humor. It was a proud moment to shake her hand. American hands brought upon the destruction of her home, but my American hands represented a resilient peace. This change was deeply meaningful and represents how life constantly evolves. She was once a little girl in a land that was at war with my country. She was a victim of an atrocity that should have never come about. The fact that I was able to meet her was moving and an experience that I will never forget.”
Keira Ferrell: “During the various academic symposiums of this pilgrimage, we had the opportunity to listen to the stories of a few atomic bombing survivors, or hibakusha as they call them in Japan. I was so moved by how strongly each of them felt about the abolition of nuclear weapons. There was something haunting about listening to those who had firsthand experience with nuclear weapons denounce them. It’s hard to put into words, but it’s almost like you hear the truth and reality of how evil nuclear weapons really are from the most authentic source, which shakes you out of the mindset of what you hear from those who have never actually experienced the impacts of nuclear weapons – sentiments like how they are necessary evils, or how a proliferation of them is necessary for national security.
“Although I understand how this issue is complicated, the hibakusha’s stories truly made me reevaluate my assumptions about nuclear weapons. Also, something that I learned from listening to the hibakusha was that they experienced discrimination in the years following 1945 due to health problems and fears of inheritable genetic disorders. There were high levels of unemployment among the hibakusha, and we heard stories of families not allowing their children to marry first- or second-generation hibakusha for fear of issues due to genetics. It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear about the lifelong suffering of those exposed to the atomic bomb.”
What do you think were the key takeaways from this gathering, and what impact do you hope it will have?
Luke Hughes: “My biggest takeaway from this pilgrimage is how much hope I have for the future generation. It was remarkable to see 15 students from the U.S. sitting down at dinner tables alongside 15 Japanese students on the first night of the trip, and to see all the bubble conversations during those few hours. It reminded me just how small the world is and how many connections we can make despite being born and raised thousands of miles apart. We bonded with Sophia University and Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University students over karaoke on the last night, shared our favorite movies, sports, etc., and just found so many similarities that really overcame our differences. This provides me with so much hope that we will be the change makers who will bring peace to the world.
“Overall, I will say this – this pilgrimage reminded me why I have chosen to study at a Catholic and Jesuit school. To be able to fly thousands of miles away from home, meet people who speak a different language, and immediately begin bonding over our favorite saints, favorite Catholic holidays, etc., is truly remarkable. I am so grateful to be a part of this global community of believers, believers who rose early in the morning to attend memorial Masses for victims of the bombing, sat in lectures for hours learning about nuclear ethics and other complex topics, and still had the energy at the end of the day to bond over some sushi and sake. It’s my faith that has guided both my personal and private life, and I needed this pilgrimage to remind me of Father Arrupe’s calling to be a ‘man for others.’ In a sense, this experience in Japan placed me back on the right path. It corrected my course. And for that, I am so grateful.”
Ella Lowry: “Reflecting on my experience, I learned so much about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I hope that this pilgrimage will serve as the first of many such events, and I hope that it will inspire others to learn more about the role of the Church in addressing nuclear issues. I will never forget my experience, and I plan to use my knowledge of these events going forward.”
Sean Moran: “I know that my life and the lives of all those who were a part of the trip have been transformed. That trip affected each of our spirits and souls at a level that is beyond human comprehension. I was a pessimistic person in terms of the path to achieve nuclear disarmament. I did not even fully support nuclear disarmament because I was unaware of the generational trauma that was caused. I was taught a false narrative that justified the use of nuclear weapons. However, this trip opened my eyes and showed me the true reality. I walked lands that were reduced to rubble. I saw photographs of people dying and sick from the aftereffects of nuclear weapons. I learned about the true nature and reason as to why the United States dropped the bombs, and it was just not to end the war, there was malicious intent. Armed with the truth and my experience, I hope to fight for a nuclear free world. My peers are up for the challenge as the experience was moving for them. We are the future, and it is up to us to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again.”
Keira Ferrell: “Although this gathering was centered on commemorating a historical event, the key takeaways were all forward-looking. I think the major takeaway was that we cannot allow this level of human suffering to happen again, particularly from nuclear weapons, and thus must work together to amplify the voices of the past to advocate for a nuclear-free future.
“I hope that this gathering will strengthen ties between different levels of the global Catholic community – between the U.S. and Japan and between the leadership of the Catholic Church and Catholic universities – to advocate for peace and work together to actually achieve steps towards peace. Personally, my biggest takeaways from this pilgrimage center around two words: solidarity and hope. I felt a level of human solidarity I had never experienced before, and it made me believe that a diverse group of people standing together can actually make real change. These feelings of solidarity led me to feel great hope, and these feelings of hope were further amplified by how the overall pilgrimage seemed to be rooted in hope. All those involved were forward-looking — reflecting on the past to positively impact the future — and they had hope, rooted in their Catholic faith, that real peace was actually possible.”
Links to texts of talks by Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy during the August 2025 Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan commemorating the 80th anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
https://adw.org/about-us/who-we-are/robert-cardinal-mcelroy/pilgrimage-of-peace-to-japan/
Links to related articles:
In Hiroshima on anniversary of atomic bombing there, Cardinal McElroy highlights new moment for renewing Catholic teaching on war and peace
At Peace Memorial Mass in Nagasaki on anniversary of atomic bombing, people encouraged to bring Christ’s love and peace to the world
At interreligious dialogue in Nagasaki, archbishops say ridding world of nuclear weapons is a moral issue
On solemn anniversary, bell from U.S. Catholics rings out for peace at Nagasaki cathedral
Related photo galleries:
Photo Gallery: In Hiroshima 80 years after atomic bombing in Japan, Pilgrimage of Peace events include Memorial Masses and Peace Symposium
Photo Gallery: Let the bells of Nagasaki echo to the world -- 80th anniversary Nagasaki Peace Memorial Masses and interreligious dialogues to pray for peace
