Hiroshima Day commemorates the day in August 1945 when an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, followed a few days later by another dropped on the city of Nagasaki.
While the bombings effectively ended World War II by bringing about the surrender of Japan, this came at a terrible price. The two cities were destroyed and casualties, mostly civilians, were estimated at around 200,000, with many more people dying later from injuries and illness.
Hiroshima Day is now a focus for anti-war and anti-nuclear discussions and demonstrations around the world.
Today a large majority of governments in the world have adopted a treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. However, we still live with the threat of nuclear warfare by some regimes.
On Hiroshima Day this year let us continue to advocate, pray and work for a ban on all nuclear weapons and an end to war and violence. May leaders of all nations be committed to dialogue and justice as ways that lead to peace and development.