Pope Leo XIV Issues Statement on Nuclear Safety and Global Conflict during Chernobyl Anniversary

Apr 26, 2026, 12:12

Introduction

Pope Leo XIV used the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to call for the peaceful use of atomic energy and to criticize the use of warfare to control global resources.

Main Body

During his remarks following the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the Pope focused on the historical importance of the 1986 explosion at the Soviet-era plant in Ukraine. He described the event as a permanent scar on human memory and a warning about the dangers of using powerful technologies. According to a 2005 United Nations report, there were an estimated 4,000 confirmed and projected deaths in the three most affected countries, although other organizations claim the number is higher. Furthermore, about 600,000 workers, known as liquidators, were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during the cleanup. Beyond the technical warnings, the Pope addressed wider political and ethical problems. He asserted that using armed conflict to take control of resources is a theft of the world's chance for peace. He also criticized other social issues, such as consumerist lifestyles and systemic prejudice. The Pope emphasized that leaders must make decisions with responsibility and care to ensure that nuclear power is used only to protect and preserve life. Regarding the political reaction, the American-born Pope has seen a decline in his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. This tension is caused by the Pope's frequent public statements against dictatorship and military war. These disagreements are happening while the world remains concerned that the four-year conflict in Ukraine could lead to more nuclear accidents.

Conclusion

Pope Leo XIV has connected the history of the Chernobyl disaster to today's global instability, calling for responsible management of technology and an end to wars fought over resources.

Vocabulary Learning

assert (v.)
state firmly / to say that something is certainly true斷言；堅稱
Example:The lawyer continued to assert that his client was innocent despite the new evidence.
instability (n.)
uncertainty / a state in which things are likely to change or fail不穩定；動盪
Example:Political instability in the region has led to a significant decrease in foreign investment.
prejudice (n.)
bias / an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling偏見；歧視
Example:Laws were introduced to help eliminate racial prejudice in the workplace.
preserve (v.)
maintain / to keep something as it is, especially in order to prevent it from being damaged保護；保存；維護
Example:It is important to preserve natural habitats to protect endangered species from extinction.
systemic (adj.)
structural / affecting an entire system or body系統性的；制度性的
Example:The organization needs to address systemic problems rather than just fixing individual mistakes.

Sentence Learning

Furthermore, about 600,000 workers, known as liquidators, were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during the cleanup.
Passive Voice: This structure focuses on the workers who were affected by the radiation rather than the radiation itself, creating a formal tone.被動語態: 此結構將焦點放在受輻射影響的工人身上，而非輻射本身，從而營造出一種正式的語調。
According to a 2005 United Nations report, there were an estimated 4,000 confirmed and projected deaths in the three most affected countries, although other organizations claim the number is higher.
Conjunction of Contrast: 'Although' is used to introduce a clause that contrasts with or qualifies the information provided in the first part of the sentence.對比連詞: 「although」(雖然) 用於引入一個子句，以對句子的前半部分提供對比或修正的資訊。
The Pope emphasized that leaders must make decisions with responsibility and care to ensure that nuclear power is used only to protect and preserve life.
Noun Clause: The clause starting with 'that' functions as the object of the verb 'emphasized,' clearly defining the specific message being delivered.名詞子句: 以「that」引導的子句作為動詞「emphasized」的賓語，清晰地界定了所傳達的具體訊息。
These disagreements are happening while the world remains concerned that the four-year conflict in Ukraine could lead to more nuclear accidents.
Subordinating Conjunction: 'While' is used here to show that two significant situations are occurring at the same time, highlighting the background context.從屬連詞: 此處使用「while」(當⋯⋯之際) 表示兩個重大情況正同時發生，從而突顯背景脈絡。
He asserted that using armed conflict to take control of resources is a theft of the world's chance for peace.
Gerund as Subject: The gerund phrase 'using armed conflict' acts as the subject of the inner clause, turning an action into a conceptual noun.動名詞作主語: 動名詞短語「using armed conflict」(使用武裝衝突) 作為內嵌子句的主語，將一個動作轉化為概念性的名詞。