Pastoral Letter

Living in the Light of Christ's Peace:
A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament

Living in the Light of Christ's Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament PDF
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Carta Pastoral: Vivir a la luz de la paz de Cristo: Una conversación hacia el desarme nuclear PDF
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パストラル・レター (Japanese Translation)

목회 편지 (Korean Translation)

In September 2017, I traveled to Japan and visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was a somber, sobering experience as I realized that on August 6, 1945, humanity crossed the line into the darkness of the nuclear age. Historically, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has been part of a peace initiative, one that would help make sure these weapons would never be used again. I believe it is time to rejuvenate that peace work. 

We need to sustain a serious conversation in New Mexico and across the nation about universal, verifiable nuclear disarmament. We can no longer deny or ignore the dangerous predicament we have created for ourselves with a new nuclear arms race, one that is arguably more dangerous than the past Cold War. In the face of increasing threats from Russia, China, and elsewhere, I point out that a nuclear arms race is inherently self-perpetuating, a vicious spiral that prompts progressively destabilizing actions and reactions by all parties, including our own country. We need nuclear arms control, not an escalating nuclear arms race.

Further, we need to figure out concrete steps toward abolishing nuclear weapons and permanently ending the nuclear threat. If we care about humanity, if we care about our planet, if we care about the God of peace and human conscience, then we must start a public conversation on these urgent questions and find a new path toward nuclear disarmament.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has a special role to play in advocating for nuclear disarmament, given the presence of the Los Alamos and Sandia nuclear weapons laboratories and the nation’s largest repository of nuclear weapons at the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the same time, we need to encourage life-affirming jobs for New Mexicans in cleanup, nonproliferation programs, and addressing climate change.

Pope Francis has made clear statements about the immorality of possessing nuclear weapons, moving the Church from past conditional acceptance of “deterrence” to the moral imperative of abolition. Instead of just a few hundred nuclear weapons for just deterrence, we have thousands for nuclear warfighting that could destroy God’s creation on earth. Moreover, we are robbing the poor and needy with current plans to spend at least $1.7 trillion to “modernize” our nuclear weapons and keep them forever.

The Catholic Church has a long history of speaking out against nuclear weapons. The Vatican was the first nation-state to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. As Pope Francis declared, “We must never grow weary of working to support the principal international legal instruments of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including the Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.” It is the duty of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the birthplace of nuclear weapons, to support that Treaty while working toward universal, verifiable nuclear disarmament.

In his reflections on the Gospels, Pope Francis often highlights the nonviolent Jesus and the themes of “blessed are the peacemakers” and “love your enemies.” He has called on us to practice Gospel nonviolence. Therefore, I invite us to step into the light of Christ and walk together toward a new future of peace, a new promised land of peace, a new culture of peace and nonviolence where we all might learn to live in peace as sisters and brothers on this beautiful planet, our common home.

Your brother in the Light of Christ’s Peace, 



 

Most Reverend John C. Wester
Archbishop of Santa Fe
January 11, 2022
4000 St. Joseph’s Pl NW
Albuquerque, NM  87120

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has partnered with Pax Christi, USA, to print copies of Archbishop Wester’s pastoral letter. Click here to order one or more full-color hard copies, then take time to read, pray, and reflect on this powerful pastoral letter on nuclear disarmament with others. Learn how to use the pastoral for outreach to Catholic leaders, parishes, and schools and its value as a tool for organizing for nuclear abolition. Booklets are available for $5 plus s/h. Discounts are available: 10% for 10-99 copies; 30% for 100+ copies. Use this 52-page booklet for individual or group study. Comes with study questions, suggested readings, and more.

The archbishops of the Archdioceses of Santa Fe and Seattle traveled to Japan in August 2024. The mission of the Pilgrimage of Peace was to establish an ecclesial and personal relationship with the bishops of Japan to work toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, expressing our heartfelt sorrow for the devastating experiences endured by their nation. To experience the pilgrimage, you are invited to visit the blog here.

25.05.01 NEWS RELEASE: Local Faith Communities to Host Interfaith Vigil for the 80th Anniversary of the Trinity Atomic Test, Calling for Global Nuclear Weapons Abolition More>

25.03.06 STATEMENT in Support of the Third Meeting of State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons More>

24.10.14 NEWS RELEASE: Archbishop John C. Wester on the Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to 
Hibakusha Hihon Hidankyo More>

24.08.13 NEWS RELEASE: IACS and UNM to Host Groundbreaking Forum on Nuclear Weapons More>

24.08.09 Archbishop Wester's Remarks at the Peace Park, Nagasaki, Japan More>

24.08.06 Peace Memorial Mass Homily on Nuclear Abolition, World Peace Memorial Cathedral of Hiroshima, Japan More>

24.08.06 Keynote Speech, Hiroshima, Japan More>

24.08.03 NEWS RELEASE: Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons: Archbishop John C. Wester to Honor the 79th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki More>

24.07.22 Statement for the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration Town Hall More> 

24.01.27: Pax Christi MA's Virtual Forum: Building a World Without Nuclear Weapons Video>

23.11.29 HOMILY: The Third Way Toward Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Church of Our Savior, New York City More>

23.11.27 STATEMENT: Statement in Support of the Second Meeting of State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons More>

23.08.09 Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons - From the Archbishops of Santa Fe, Seattle, Nagasaki, and Bishop of Hiroshima More>

23.08.05 Archbishop John C. Wesster's Lecture at the World Peace Memorial Cathedral of Hiroshima More> Watch here.

23.05.17 NEWS RELEASE: Most Reverend John C. Wester and Most Reverend Paul D. Etienne Join Bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Urging the International Group of Seven To Take Steps Toward Nuclear Disarmament More>

22.10.17 STATEMENT: Most Reverend John C. Wester on the  60th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis: Eliminate the Nuclear Danger by Eliminating Nuclear Weapons More>
DECLARACIÓN: Reverendísimo John C. Wester en el 60 aniversario de la crisis de los misiles cubanos: Eliminar el peligro nuclear mediante la eliminación de las armas nucleares En Español>

22.10.04 STATEMENT: Feast Day of St. Francis: Pray for Peace in Ukraine and the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons More>
22.10.04 DECLARACIÓN: Fiesta de San Francisco: Oremos por la paz en Ucrania y la abolición de las armas nucleares En Español>

22.09.12 Archbishop Wester's United Nations Evening Prayer Service Homily, Holy Family Catholic Church, New York More>

Pax Christi USA National Assembly | Fiftieth Anniversary Conference, Washington, DC | Archbishop John C. Wester Keynote Address | August 5, 2022

22.08.03 NEWS RELEASE: 77th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, Japan Mass and Interfaith Discussion, Tuesday, August 9, 2022
5:15 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Followed by Panel Discussion with Interfaith Leaders at 6:15 p.m. More>

22.07.01 SAVE THE DATE: 77th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, Japan | Mass and Interfaith Discussion Tuesday, August 9, 2022 More> En Español>

22.06.20 STATEMENT: Archbishop Wester’s Statement in Support of the First Meeting of State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons More> 

22.03.22 STATEMENT: Most Reverend John C. Wester on War in Ukraine - Nuclear Weapons Must Be Eliminated, Not Reinforced More>

Archbishop John C. Wester was asked to give the homily at the United Nations Evening Prayer Service at Holy Family Catholic Church in New York on Sept. 12, 2022.

"Jesus came into the world as the true light. He came to lead us out of the darkness of violence, death, and destruction. In doing so, He is the 'light of the world.' His light is the exact opposite of the bright light of a nuclear weapon. His light is the true light of universal love, the light of universal compassion, the light of universal peace. His light is the light of total nonviolence. His light of peace enables us to see a way forward on the path of life toward a new future of peace, a world without nuclear weapons."

You can read his complete homily here.