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On August 9, 1945, the city of Nagasaki was struck by the second atomic bomb in history.
The epicenter of the explosion lay just meters from Urakami Cathedral—then the largest Catholic church in the East. Amid the smoldering ruins, something unexpected was found: the charred head of a statue of Our Lady–its eyes burned out, a deep gash across its face, and an expression that seemed to contemplate the suffering of her people.
That mutilated statue, now known as Our Lady of Nagasaki or Hibaku no Maria (“Bombed Mary”), has become a living symbol of hope and resilience. For many, it is proof that even when everything appears destroyed, Mary remains with her children.
A face marked by pain… and compassion
The atomic bomb instantly claimed more than 70,000 lives and left thousands more with incurable injuries and illnesses. From the rubble, missionaries and survivors recovered the statue of Mary—wounded, but still recognizable.
Years later, during a visit to Nagasaki, Pope Francis said the image “speaks without words,” bearing “the indescribable horror suffered in the flesh by the victims” and, at the same time, “the silent consolation of the Mother who never abandons.”
A memory that walks: the luminous procession
Every year on August 6, the faithful gather for a candlelit procession through the streets of Nagasaki. With light in their hands, they remember not only Hiroshima—bombed on that same date—but also the victims of Nagasaki.
🇯🇵 Católicos japoneses carregam Nossa Senhora de Nagasaki em procissão, uma imagem de madeira que sobreviveu ao bombardeio atômico da cidade há 80 anos. pic.twitter.com/yh8UNYlFhg
— Café com Tradição ☕️🇻🇦(Gabriel Moura) (@cafecomtradicao) August 10, 2025
The procession is marked by silence, prayer, and Marian hymns. At its head, the statue of Our Lady of Nagasaki is carried as a sign of intercession for world peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.
For the local community, this is more than a historical tribute. It is an act of faith—a prayer that God will transform the scars of war into paths of reconciliation.
Light in the darkness
Devotion to Our Lady of Nagasaki carries three profound truths:
- Mary remains – Even in the ruins, she is with us.
- Memory is sacred – Remembering suffering is a step toward healing the heart of the world.
- Peace is a mission – Every Christian is called to be an instrument of reconciliation.
“Never again war! Never again the roar of arms! May the light of peace always shine.” — Pope Francis in Nagasaki