The Nagasaki Catholic Peace Forum (CPF), held on August 10, at Otsugeno Maria Syuudoujyokai in Nagasaki, united Catholic organisations in a concerted effort to promote peacebuilding and nuclear disarmament across Asia and the world. The CPF operates in alignment with Catholic social teachings, including Laudato Si’ (2015), Fratelli Tutti (2020), and the Pope’s World Peace Day messages.

The CPF is a joint initiative by Pax Christi Korea, Pax Christi USA, Pax Christi International, as well as Pax Romana International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS), International Youth Training Center (IYTC), in partnership with the Archdiocese of Nagasaki, Japan as the local host.

The forum provided a dynamic platform for addressing global peace challenges and featured insightful sessions on topics such as emerging peace challenges, the role of youth in peace efforts, and Catholic initiatives for nuclear disarmament.

Participants were welcomed by Anselmo Lee, Co-President of Pax Christi Korea; Bishop Emeritus Peter Kang, Co-president of PCK, Korea; Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki; Archbishop John C. Wester of the Santa Fe Archdiocese, USA. The event also featured recorded messages from Martha Inés Romero, Secretary General of Pax Christi International, Charlene Howard, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, and other representatives.

Key speakers included Akira Kawasaki, Peace Boat / International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Japan; Corazon Fabros, International Peace Bureau (IPB), Philippines; Kanghyup SHIN, Jeju Human Rights and Peace Institute, Korea. In addition to these prominent voices, many other distinguished speakers contributed their expertise and perspectives to the discussions.

Find the complete session details and full list of speakers here.

The forum’s principal outcome, the “2024 Nagasaki Appeal for Peace,” outlines a series of action plans for global nuclear disarmament, aligning with the Partnership for a World without Nuclear Weapons and the joint statement of Pax Christi Korea and the USA. This initiative is also a significant step in the preparation for the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day.