Tokyo, Japan: In a meeting on Monday with people affected by Japan’s 2011 “triple disaster,” Pope Francis criticized society’s indifference toward the suffering of others. reflectin on the triple disaster in Japan, the Pope spoke of the ow concerned humanity should be regarding ecological concerns and manmade disasters like wars and violence.
“But the most important thing, I believe, is to progress in building a culture capable of combating indifference,” he said. “One of our greatest ills has to do with a culture of indifference. We need to work together to foster awareness that if one member of our family suffers, we all suffer.”
The triple disaster is referred to attacks of magnitude-9 earthquake under the ocean off the coast of Japan that struck Japan in 2011, followed by a tsunami that together provoked a meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Around 19,000 citizens lost their lives while over 1.5 lakh were displaced from their properties. Many of these people have not returned home yet.
He thanked the young attendees for their testimonies, calling the meeting an important part of his visit to Japan. The pope then asked for a moment of silent prayer for the thousands of people who lost their lives in the disaster and for their families. May this prayer, he said, “unite us and give us the courage to look forward with hope.”
In his speech, the pope emphasized the importance of working together to help those who were affected by the disaster, especially those who may have been forgotten by others, or who face the ongoing problems of contaminated lands or the effects of radiation.
As stated by the CNA, the Pope said, “No one ‘rebuilds’ by himself or herself; nobody can start over alone. We have to find a friendly and fraternal hand, capable of helping to raise not just a city, but also our horizon and our hope,” he said.
