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On the third day of his trip to Japan, Pope Francis spoke on Monday about his " concern " over the use of nuclear energy. And he called for increased mobilization to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, followed by the Fukushima nuclear accident.
With our correspondent in Tokyo, Frédéric Charles
In front of the pope, Matsuki Kamoshita, who was eight years old when waves of 15 meters high destroyed the Fukushima power plant , says: " We were harassed after our evacuation, the evacuees were treated as plague victims. It was so hard that I wanted to die. "
The pope in Tokyo listens attentively. Matsuki Kamoshita asks him to pray for the elimination of the threat posed by radiation exposure for our future.
After his testimony, François hugs him. 50,000 evacuees from Hiroshima still live in temporary housing.
" Future sources of energy "
In 2016, the Japan Bishops' Conference called for the abolition of nuclear energy production. Pope Francis is now more diplomatic. It does not demand the closure of nuclear power plants. We must reflect, says the sovereign pontiff, ask us what sources of energy we want to use in the future. " The first step, I believe, in addition to making courageous and important decisions regarding the exploitation of natural resources, and in particular with regard to future sources of energy, is to work and strive towards a culture able to fight indifference, "said the pope.
François then met young people in St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo. He advised them not to look too much in the mirror. And smiled, before saying, "A lot of things have been invented. But thanks to God, selfies of the soul do not exist yet .