Nagasaki Marks 80th Year Since Atomic Bombing

On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, the twin bells of the Immaculate Conception (Urakami) Cathedral rang together for the first time since 1945, following a moment of silence. The ceremony was attended by survivors (hibakusha), local officials, and nearly 100 international delegations, including U.S. Catholic leaders, Russia, and Israel. About 74,000 people were killed in the bombing, and many survivors have endured lifelong trauma. The cathedral, rebuilt in 1959 with its second bell restored by U.S. Catholic donations, hosted interfaith services, peace vigils, and a torch procession. Church leaders and survivors called for the immediate cessation of armed conflicts and nuclear disarmament. The event underscored the moral imperative to reject nuclear weapons and remember the human cost of war.