Prayer for Peace with Pope Francis
Earth Caravan and Hiroshima Survivor Pray for Peace with Pope Francis as
The Hiroshima Flame comes to the Vatican for the first time in history
2019.03.24【Media coverage：ROME REPORTS】Hiroshima survivor presents “ Flame of Peace ” candle to Pope Francis
2019.03.22【Media coverage：The Asahi Shinbun】Pope blows out flame from 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima
2019.03.21【Media coverage：NHK】Flame from A-bombing delivered to Pope Francis
2019.03.21【Media coverage：the japan times】Flame from A-bombing delivered to Pope Francis
Earth Caravan, led by Buddhist priest Ryokyu Endo, along with Mrs. Setsuko Thurlow, a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor who received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of ICAN in 2017, will make a pilgrimage to the Vatican carrying the Hiroshima Flame to be presented to His Holiness Pope Francis. The flame was taken from the ashes of the atomic bomb and has been burning continuously as a symbol for peace since August 6, 1945.
Mrs. Thurlow was 13 years old when the atomic bomb exploded, and she lost her entire family. Joining Mrs. Thurlow will be a delegation of four 13-year-old girls from different countries and cultural backgrounds, including Ms. Yusa Okada, a third-generation atomic bomb survivor from Nagasaki. Also accompanying the delegation will be second-generation Nagasaki bomb survivor Ms. Chiyumi Shinkai. Lawrence Lefcort and Alex Pereklita of Tao Sangha will be representing the Earth Caravan delegation from Canada.
The Hiroshima Flame has been burning constantly since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in August of 1945. It is to be extinguished only when the threat of nuclear war and nuclear weapons is gone. By symbolically blowing out the flame at the Vatican, we hope to usher in the bright future of a nuclear-free world.
Since 2015, Earth Caravan has traveled from Nagasaki to Hiroshima, from Auschwitz to Srebrenica, and from the First Nations of Canada to Israel and Palestine. Every year, Earth Caravan’s prayers and activities inspire thousands of people all around the globe to work for the bright future that we all share.
”If adults won’t make peace – we will!”
These are the passionate voices of four, 13-year-old girls talking about their wish for peace. What they hope and work for is the realization of a world where all beings are respected. Yusa Okada from Nagasaki, Janna Ibrahim from Bethlehem, Yasmine Abouzaglo from Dallas, USA and Mirjam Schmitzhofer from Vienna represent the fervent wish of the next generation for a bright future without nuclear weapons.
Accompanied by Setsuko Thurlow, a Hibakusha, nuclear bomb survivor of Hiroshima 1945 and Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of former president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, these five girls from different nations and religions would like to bring the Peace Flame of Hiroshima to His Holiness Pope Francis, at the Vatican and pray together with the Holy Father for Peace and Justice.
Setsuko Thurlow accepted the Nobel prize for Peace in 2017 on behalf of the International Campaign on Abolishment of Nuclear Weapons -ICAN, and spoke at the United Nations in 2017 about the need to ban nuclear weapons.