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Francis, 82, a determined anti-nuclear campaigner who has in the
past called for a total ban on nuclear weapons, will read a
message on the theme in Nagasaki on Sunday and meet survivors.
"I wish to meet those who still bear the wounds of this tragic
episode in human history," the pope told Japanese bishops
shortly after his arrival.
More than 100,000 people were killed instantly by the two bombs
dropped by the United States as it sought to end World War Two
in August 1945 and tens of thousands of others died in later
years from radiation illnesses and injuries.
The pope will also meet survivors of the March 11, 2011 nuclear
meltdown at Fukushima, the world's worst nuclear disaster since
Chernobyl in 1986.
The pope's plane touched down in Tokyo in a light drizzle and
windy conditions. Francis flew from Thailand to start a four-day
visit that will be the first by a pontiff in 38 years and only
the second in history.
His trip here is filled with memories of his youth because as a
seminarian in his native Argentina more than 50 years ago he
dreamed of being sent to Japan as a missionary. But his
superiors had other plans for him after he was ordained a priest
in 1968.
After a low-key reception at the airport - the official welcome
will be on Monday - he immediately went to the Vatican embassy
to address the bishops.
MESSAGES FOR CHINA, HONG KONG
En route to Japan, the papal plane flew over Chinese, Hong Kong
and Taiwanese airspace and he sent messages to their respective
leaders as part of customary diplomatic protocol.
The message to Carrie Lam, the embattled chief executive of Hong
Kong, invoked "well being and peace". Francis made no mention of
the months of the pro-democracy demonstrations in the
Chinese-ruled special administrative region.
The message to Chinese President Xi Jinping was similar. It was
the first time that Francis has flown over Chinese airspace
since last year's landmark accord between Beijing and the
Vatican over the appointment of bishops.
He also sent a message to Taiwan, which has diplomatic relations
with the Vatican but which Beijing regards as a renegade
province.
Another goal of his visit to Japan is to encourage the Catholic
community in Japan, where just about 1% of the population
identifies as Christian, about half of them Catholic.
He will say two Masses, one in Nagasaki and one in Tokyo, as
well as meeting Japanese officials and Emperor Naruhito.
(Writing by Philip Pullella and Elaine Lies; Editing by Clarence
Fernandez, Ritsuko Ando and Frances Kerry)
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