Pope brings anti-nuclear message to Nagasaki, Hiroshima

Pope Francis is bringing his peace message to Nagasaki and Hiroshima on his first full day in Japan, paying homage to the victims of the U.S. atomic bombings and demanding an end to the stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons.

Francis was arriving first in Nagasaki as a downpour Sunday drenched the terraced fields and rice paddies around town, where autumn has begun turning hills of green into shades of red, yellow and orange.

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The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Pope Francis is bringing his peace message to Nagasaki and Hiroshima on his first full day in Japan, paying homage to the victims of the U.S. atomic bombings and demanding an end to the stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons.

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Staff prepares for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Staff prepare for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful arrive for Pope Francis' Mass at Nagasaki Prefectural Baseball Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoKiichiro Sato)

Staff prepares for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful arrive as they wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

In this aerial photo, Hiroshima city is seen from an airplane window, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. After a packed three days in Thailand, Pope Francis has an even busier schedule in Japan, starting off with flights Sunday to Nagasaki and Hiroshima to appeal for total nuclear disarmament, and a meeting Monday with victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.(AP PhotoGregorio Borgia)

Staff prepares for Pope Francis' Mass at Nagasaki Prefectural Baseball Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoKiichiro Sato)

Staff prepare for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

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Pope Francis is bringing his peace message to Nagasaki and Hiroshima on his first full day in Japan, paying homage to the victims of the U.S. atomic bombings and demanding an end to the stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons.

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Staff prepares for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Staff prepare for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful arrive for Pope Francis' Mass at Nagasaki Prefectural Baseball Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoKiichiro Sato)

Staff prepares for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful arrive as they wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

In this aerial photo, Hiroshima city is seen from an airplane window, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. After a packed three days in Thailand, Pope Francis has an even busier schedule in Japan, starting off with flights Sunday to Nagasaki and Hiroshima to appeal for total nuclear disarmament, and a meeting Monday with victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.(AP PhotoGregorio Borgia)

Staff prepares for Pope Francis' Mass at Nagasaki Prefectural Baseball Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoKiichiro Sato)

Staff prepare for Pope Francis visit at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

The faithful wait for Pope Francis at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Nagasaki, Japan. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Japanese Catholics and others are braving the rain in plastic raincoats, some queuing up for hours to secure a spot for Francis’ Mass in the baseball stadium. Others gathered at the outdoor memorial to bombing victims at ground zero, where Francis was expected to deliver a strong appeal for complete nuclear disarmament.