VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis told a group of Japanese visitors to
the Vatican that he wants to visit Japan in 2019. And the president of
Mozambique announced that Pope Francis plans to visit the country next year.
"Taking advantage of your visit, I would like to announce my
desire to visit Japan next year. We hope it is possible to do," the pope
said Sept. 12 during a meeting with members of Japan's Tensho Kenoh Shisetsu
Kenshoukai, a cultural association.
Pope Francis has received several invitations to visit Japan,
including an invitation in 2013 from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
A more recent invitation, according to the Japanese daily The Asahi Shimbun, came from the mayors of Nagasaki and
Hiroshima in May; they asked him to visit the two cities that were decimated by
atomic bombs in August 1945 and use the occasion to urge world leaders to
abolish nuclear weapons.
"The number of 'hibakusha' ('survivors of the atomic bomb
attack') who had been exposed to radiation after the dropping of the atomic
bombs is declining every year. Please come to Nagasaki and encourage the A-bomb
survivors," Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue reportedly told the pope.
St. John Paul II visited Japan in 1981, including the cities of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During his visit to the Peace Memorial Park in
Hiroshima, St. John Paul called on government leaders to stop stockpiling
nuclear weapons.
"To those who hold political and economic power, I say: let
us pledge ourselves to peace through justice; let us take a solemn decision,
now, that war will never be tolerated or sought as a means of resolving
differences; let us promise our fellow human beings that we will work
untiringly for disarmament and the banishing of all nuclear weapons; let us
replace violence and hate with confidence and caring," St. John Paul said
Feb. 25, 1981.
As Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi was saying goodbye to the
pope at the Vatican Sept. 14, he turned to the journalists present and said,
"I would like to announce that next year, the pope is coming to
Mozambique!"
"If I'm still alive," Pope Francis responded with a
grin.
The pope welcomed Nyusi in the library of the Apostolic Palace.
Sitting down at his desk, the pope began the meeting with a lighthearted joke
that he has used on several similar occasions, "Do you know the difference
between protocol and terrorism? You can negotiate with terrorists."
Accompanied by a Portuguese translator, the pope spoke privately
with the head of state for more than 30 minutes.
According to a statement released by the Vatican, Pope Francis
and Nyusi discussed "the good relations between the Holy See and
Mozambique and the valued contribution of the Catholic Church in several
sectors of society."
"The socio-political situation of the nation was then
discussed, as well as the process of national reconciliation currently underway
with the hope that a stable and lasting peace may be reached," the Vatican
said.
The two leaders also exchanged opinions "on the fight
against poverty and corruption as well as economic collaboration between
Mozambique and other countries."
After concluding their private discussions, the Mozambican head
of state introduced his wife and members of his entourage to Pope Francis.
President Nyusi also gave the pope a painting of a little girl
writing on a piece of paper.
"She is writing an invitation so that you may visit
Mozambique," the president told the pope.
The pope gave Nyusi a split medallion held together by an olive
tree and said, "Below the words written are: 'Look for what unites,
overcome what divides.'"