In one of Tokyo’s main convention centers, Pope Francis listened to the moving stories of those who survived the triple catastrophe that began on March 11, 2011, in Japan: an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear disaster.
Toshiko Kato was the principal of an elementary school at the time.
“My house was swept away by the tsunami along with the rest of the city.”
Matsuki Kamoshita had to evacuate during the Fukushima nuclear disaster. He said his generation deserves an explanation.
POPE FRANCIS
“May this prayer unite us and give us the courage to look forward with hope.”
The triple disaster claimed the lives of over 15,000 people.
The earthquake, a magnitude 9 according to the Richter scale, caused a tsunami that covered entire towns and damaged Fukushima's nuclear power plant. It was a national catastrophe that shocked the whole world.
BENEDICT XVI
March 12, 2011
“I pray for the victims and their families”
On every apostolic trip, the pope dedicates some time to reflect on the wounds of the countries he visits. In Japan they were three: the martyrdom of the first Christians, the atomic bombs and the disaster in Fukushima.
Javier Romero
