Iconic Nagasaki photo lives on

Summary

In Nagasaki, Pope Francis called for the abolition of nuclear weapons during a poignant speech. He stood at the site of the 1945 atomic bombing, with a powerful image in the backdrop: a boy carrying his deceased brother to a crematory. This photo, taken by U.S. serviceman Joseph O'Donnell, symbolizes the devastating 'fruit of war.' The Pope has used the image in his peace message, distributing it widely. After the speech, O'Donnell's son met the Pope, expressing gratitude for honoring his father's work, and received a blessing for his father's St. Christopher medal.

Takeaways

• 📢 Pope Francis called for the world to abolish nuclear weapons during a speech in Nagasaki.
• ☔ Despite the rain, Pope Francis stood at the site where an atomic bomb decimated Nagasaki in 1945.
• 🖼️ A haunting image of a boy carrying his deceased brother to a crematory served as the backdrop for the speech.
• 📸 The photo was taken by the late U.S. serviceman Joseph O'Donnell after the bombing of Nagasaki.
• 🕊️ Pope Francis has used this image, titled 'The Fruit of War,' in his message of peace.
• 📅 The Pope distributed the photo as a card in January of last year to spread his anti-war message.
• 🎥 Before his death, O'Donnell recounted how the boy watched stoically as his brother's body was laid to rest.
• ✈️ O'Donnell's son, Tighe O'Donnell, traveled from the U.S. to attend the Pope's speech in Nagasaki.
• 🙏 After the speech, Tighe met Pope Francis, who blessed his father's St. Christopher medal.
• 👨‍👦 Tighe expressed that his father would be immensely proud of how his photograph has contributed to the cause of peace.

Q & A

Where did Pope Francis speak over the weekend?

Pope Francis spoke in the city of Nagasaki over the weekend.

What was the main message of Pope Francis' speech in Nagasaki?

Pope Francis called on the world to abolish nuclear weapons during his speech in Nagasaki.

What historical event took place in Nagasaki in August 1945?

In August 1945, Nagasaki was decimated by an atomic bomb during World War II.

What was the symbolic picture used as a backdrop for Pope Francis' speech?

The backdrop was a haunting and symbolic picture of a boy carrying the lifeless body of his younger brother, waiting at a crematory after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

Who took the iconic image of the boy and his deceased younger brother?

The image was taken by the late U.S. serviceman Joseph O'Donnell, who captured hundreds of post-atomic bombing pictures.

What did Pope Francis do with the image in January of last year?

Pope Francis had the image made into a card titled 'The Fruit of War,' which he handed out to people as part of his message of peace.

How did Joseph O'Donnell describe the boy in the picture before his death?

On audio tapes recorded before his death, O'Donnell described how the boy watched unflinchingly as men took his younger brother's body and laid it in the flames at the crematory.

Who from Joseph O'Donnell's family attended Pope Francis' speech in Nagasaki?

Tighe O'Donnell, the son of Joseph O'Donnell, traveled from the U.S. to hear Pope Francis speak.

What did Pope Francis say to Tighe O'Donnell after the speech?

Pope Francis told Tighe O'Donnell that the picture his father took had contributed significantly to peace, and he blessed the St. Christopher medal that Joseph O'Donnell used to wear.

What did Tighe O'Donnell say about the St. Christopher medal after meeting Pope Francis?

Tighe O'Donnell said he would cherish the St. Christopher medal even more after it was blessed by the Pope, and he believed his father would have been immensely proud of the picture's impact.