Kochi: Cardinal George Alencherry Monday led prayers at a reception given to a peace boat from Japan carrying atomic bombing survivors at Kochi, Kerala.
“Peace is the greatest blessing of God. Every religion is giving priority to the peace of believers. I appreciate officials of the Kochi Corporation who arranged this reception,” the cardinal, head of the Syro-Malabar Church said at the function held at the Corporation Council Hall.
‘Mayors for Peace,” an international organization organized the reception for people who survived the bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
The function began by paying tribute to those killed in the bombings in those two Japanese cities.
Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany told the function that the port city of Kerala always stood first in spreading the message of peace and brotherhood, reported The New Indian Express.
“It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that steps are taken to prevent nuclear bombings in future, and to spread the message of global peace,” Chammany added.
In the absence of Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi, a representative read out his message at the function.
“The Hiroshima Mayor is not able to attend the function in Kochi as he has to participate in the NPT Review Conference being held in New York,” said the representative.
Meanwhile, the Japanese team, mainly comprising hibakusha (survivors) of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, interacted with around 50 students selected from various schools in Kochi, which is also the commercial capital of Kerala.