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Pope prays for victims of Chernobyl disaster 30 years on


Red Forest Hill By Timm Suess - radioactive forest, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14886940

Red Forest Hill By Timm Suess - radioactive forest, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14886940

During Wednesday's General Audience, Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station disaster 30 years from the tragedy. Addressing pilgrims in St Peter's Square he had special greetings for those from Ukraine and Belarus. After mentioning an International Conference organized to mark the anniversary, Pope Francis said he was "praying for the victims of that disaster while expressing appreciation and gratitude to those who have assisted them and for the initiatives aimed at alleviating their suffering and the damage."

The disaster which began at Chernobyl on 26 April, 1986 has had an ongoing impact on Belarus and Russia and across parts of Western Europe. The entire population of the area was evacuated when the explosion took place. Hundreds of thousands of people were permanently re-located away from their homes. During the accident, 31 people were killed but since then many more have died from radiation-related illness. Doctors expect the eventual death toll could reach 4,000 among those exposed to the highest level of radiation. Instances of childhood thyroid cancer and leukemia are very much more prevalent in that area.

Kate Hudson from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament commented: "It was wonderful to hear the Pope's words on this subject: his humanitarian response to the needs of that community and of the support that they continue to receive" she said.

She also warned that the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Station disaster in Japan, shows that in many respects, lessons have not been learnt from Chernobyl and governments to look at safer forms of energy production.

"We urge people to look at the consequences of government decisions, whether they are on nuclear energy or on nuclear weapons: it's a technology that is too dangerous to retain" she told Vatican Radio.

* In London the Belarusian Memorial Chapel - the first wooden church in London since the Great Fire of London - is being built to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. The chapel in north Finchley is sponsored Diocese of Westminster/Holy See of Rome.

Source: Vatican Radio/CND/UN Chernobyl site

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