Fukushima crisis compared to Tower of Babel

March 25, 2015

Pope cites Fukushima nuclear crisis as a modern-day Tower of Babel

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201503250073

By YUKIE YAMAO/ Correspondent

ROME--Pope Francis warned against the dangers of arrogance in comparing the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant crisis to the biblical Tower of Babel, in a talk held with Japanese bishops in the Vatican.

"Mankind can become arrogant and create a society convenient to them, driven by an egotistical motive," Francis told members of the Bishops of Japan on March 20, according to Takeo Okada, archbishop of Tokyo. "Acts thought to help mankind are ending up destroying themselves."

The pope also warned that the production and export of arms is the most destructive threat to civilization, stating that "the problem lies in how massive wealth is created through them."

The Japanese bishops issued a message in February to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, in which they expressed concern over groups that deny wartime atrocities and the Abe administration's efforts to alter Article 9 of Japan's pacifist Constitution to allow the nation to exercise the right to collective self-defense.

The Japanese clerics discussed this message, along with issues regarding Article 9, in a meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

Parolin urged the group to submit the message to the Japanese government.

"You must encourage them in order to have them resolve the issues through dialogue," Parolin told the Japanese bishops.