SEATTLE — On the one-year anniversary of his Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan, Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne renewed his call for nuclear disarmament and asked other Catholics and religious leaders to join him in working toward and praying for peace.

“Today’s numerous nuclear weapons will destroy our planet and our human family many times over,” Archbishop Etienne wrote in a letter to the people of Western Washington. “It is sinful for us to turn a blind eye to this reality. Pope Francis goes even further by stating: ‘The use of nuclear weapons, as well as their mere possession, is immoral.’”

In August 2023, Archbishop Etienne and a group from the Archdiocese of Seattle joined a delegation from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, including Archbishop John C. Wester, for a weeklong Pilgrimage of Peace. The pilgrims visited bombing sites in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, met with survivors of the bombings and signed a pledge with three Japanese bishops to work toward a world free of nuclear weapons.

In his Aug. 6 letter, Archbishop Etienne reflects on what he saw and learned during his visit.

“The devastation – physical, emotional, ecological – from these two primitive nuclear bombs was truly horrific,” he said. “Knowing that we continue to manufacture these weapons, refining their destructive power, is beyond alarming.”

He added that meeting with victims “who lost everything in that flash of light solidified my resolve to bring attention to this issue and further the clarion call for peace.”

To increase awareness, Archbishop Etienne outlined three concrete steps.

  • First, he encouraged people to read about the Pilgrimage of Peace in a digital booklet and grow in awareness of the effects of nuclear weapons.
  • Second, he, Archbishop Wester and the three Japanese bishops invited Catholic leaders, dioceses, religious orders, schools and other Catholic entities to join their Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons. “Together, this voluntary international network will aim to remember the destruction caused by nuclear weapons, journey together to prevent nuclear harm, and protect against future nuclear harm to realize a world without nuclear weapons,” the bishops’ invitation said.
  • Lastly, he welcomed the public to a Mass for Peace at noon Aug. 9 at St. James Cathedral in Seattle. “Come pray with us as an emboldened community calling for peace as we remember all those impacted by nuclear weapons,” Archbishop Etienne wrote.

Archbishop Etienne also reminded readers that peace in our world relies on more than just getting rid of nuclear weapons.

“Peace in our world starts with each of us as individuals. Peace is rooted in our relationship with God,” he wrote. “Peace rooted in God extends to our relationships within our own families and in our communities. Peace is nourished through us at work, at the grocery store, while sitting in traffic, and in all the mundane moments in our lives each day.”

LEARN MORE

Read Archbishop Etienne’s letter in its entirety here. (The Spanish version is available here.)

Read the invitation by five bishops to join the Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons here.