法王ミサに「希望の火」　被爆２世ら運搬―ＮＰＯ企画

　来日するフランシスコ・ローマ法王が長崎市と東京で執り行うミサで、国内各地で平和への願いが込められた「希望の火」が祭壇にともされることが決まった。企画したＮＰＯ法人「アースキャラバン」（京都市）が１８日、長崎市で記者会見して発表した。
　希望の火は、核兵器が廃絶されるまでともされる長崎市の「誓いの火」から採火し、広島原爆の残り火とされる福岡県八女市の「平和の火」、広島市の「平和の灯（ともしび）」などを加えた。
　ＮＰＯメンバーの被爆２世や外国人らが希望の火を携えて９月から、自転車で各地の教会や神社、寺などを訪問。それぞれの宗教のやり方で、平和への祈りを火に込めたという。
　法王によるミサは２４日に長崎市、２５日に東京ドームで開かれる。希望の火は２２日に東京到着後、新幹線などで長崎に渡り、長崎のミサ後に再び東京に戻る。
　メンバーで被爆２世の新海智弓さん（５５）は「核廃絶に向けた願いが世界に発信できるのではないか」と話した。（2019/11/18-12:31）

The "Flame of Hope," a symbol of Japanese people's wish for peace, will be placed on altars at Masses to be conducted by Pope Francis in Tokyo and Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, during his visit to Japan from Saturday.
   The Earth Caravan, a nonprofit organization based in the western Japan city of Kyoto, organized the arrangement. It announced the project on Monday at a press conference in Nagasaki, which was attacked by an atomic bomb in 1945 in the closing days of World War II.
   The Flame of Hope was taken from the "Flame of Commitment" in Nagasaki, which will continue to be lit until nuclear weapons are eliminated.
   It also includes the "peace flame" in Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, which is said to be from the embers of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, western Japan, and the "Peace Flame" in Hiroshima.
   Carrying the Flame of Hope, Earth Caravan members including second-generation hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, visited religious sites such as churches, shrines and temples in many parts of Japan by bicycle from September. In each location, prayers for peace were offered for the flame in ways of respective religions.