JAPAN Forward 
Pope Francis in Japan in 2019.
The Vatican announced that Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 AM on April 21, a day after Easter Sunday, at the age of 88. He had been hospitalized in Rome since mid-February, receiving treatment for double pneumonia.
In 2019, Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit Japan in 38 years, following the footsteps of Pope John Paul II. During his trip, he traveled to Hiroshima, where he met with Japanese citizens of all ages — including children and atomic bomb survivors — at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. There, he delivered a powerful message of peace and called for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Here's a look back at some of Pope Francis' key moments covered by JAPAN Forward, starting with the most recent.
First Pontiff to Address G7 Summit
In June 2024, Pope Francis made history as the first pontiff to address a G7 summit. Hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the summit featured a special session on artificial intelligence. Meloni called his participation in the influential forum a "historic day."
In his opening remarks, Pope Francis described AI as an "exciting and fearsome tool." Over a 20-minute address, he reflected on the potential of the technology, highlighting its role in the "democratization of access to knowledge, the exponential advancement of scientific research, and the possibility of giving demanding and arduous work to machines."
Yet he also warned of growing global disparities if AI is not used responsibly, cautioning against the risk of "more injustice between advanced countries and developing countries, between dominant social classes and oppressed social classes."
A Shared Vision with Japan's Prime Minister
On May 4, 2024, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Italy for an in-person summit with then–Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. That morning, he met with Pope Francis to discuss shared concerns.
They agreed on the aim of achieving a world without nuclear weapons, with Japan being the only country to have suffered the effects of a nuclear bomb.
The Pope talked about the "inconceivable" use and possession of such weapons. In 2019 in his first visit to Japan, in a memorial speech in Hiroshima, Pope Francis emphasized the "immoral use of nuclear weapons for war reasons, as is immoral the possession of nuclear weapons."
'Protect All Life': 2019 Visit to Japan
Pope Francis' visit to Japan from November 23 to 26, 2019 marked the first time a pontiff had set foot in the country since Pope John Paul II's brief visit in 1981.
The theme of the visit was "Protect All Life." In a video message released ahead of the trip, Pope Francis explained it as "the strong instinct which resides in the hearts of people to defend the dignity of all humans, which is particularly at risk with threats to peaceful coexistence."
Addressing the Japanese people, he added: "Your country is particularly aware of the suffering caused by war. I pray together with you that the destruction caused by nuclear weapons doesn't occur again in human history."
During the visit, the pope participated in a Peace Gathering at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and listened to the testimonies of hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors).
Inside the Peace Memorial Museum, a message from Pope Francis remains on display:
"I have come as a pilgrim of peace, to grieve in sincerity with all who suffered injury and death on that terrible day in the history of this land. I pray that the God of life will convert beauty to peace, unification, and fraternity with love."
- Pope's Visit to Japan: Unstated Hopes for the Church in Asia
- Nuclear Weapons a Crime Against People and the Planet — Pope Francis in Japan
- Hiroshima, Nagasaki Hope Pope Francis’ Visit Boosts Nuclear Abolition Campaign
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Author: JAPAN Forward
