15-05-2025
Bell donated by US Catholics to atomic-bombed Nagasaki cathedral shown to media
A new bell donated by US Catholics for an atomic-bombed cathedral in the Japanese city of Nagasaki was unveiled to the media on Thursday.
The bell was made under an American project to replace one destroyed at Urakami Cathedral in 1945 ahead of the 80th anniversary of the city's atomic bombing.
The cathedral originally had two bells, each hanging in a separate tower. The rebuilt cathedral only has the surviving bell, which was recovered from the rubble.
On Thursday, the Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki revealed the donated bell, which is a faithful replica of the original bronze one.
At a news conference, Nagasaki Archbishop Nakamura Michiaki said the sound of the new bell ringing into the future will be of great significance not just for Catholics but also for Nagasaki and the United States. He said he believes the new bell will provide hope for efforts to achieve world peace.
James Nolan Jr., who is the grandson of a doctor involved in the development of atomic bombs and who coordinated the bell project, attended the news conference online.
He said he is honored to be able to help restore the sound that had been lost for 80 years to Urakami Cathedral.
The Archdiocese of Nagasaki says the new bell will be placed in the tower in July, and will be first rung there at 11:02 a.m. on August 9 -- the time the bomb exploded 80 years ago.
