Father Hugo Lassalle miraculously survived the destruction of the original Catholic church in Noboricho, Hiroshima City, in the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945. In honor of those who lost their lives in the blast, he decided to rebuild the church as a cathedral dedicated to peace. The bells, from Lassalle’s home country of Germany, were made from steel weapons used in WWII. The bells bear the inscription “The arms of war now sound the call to peace.” Austria, Belgium, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain have also donated other items used and displayed in the Cathedral.
- 1 min read
Memorial Cathedral for World Peace
A symbol of co-operation among countries
![Mary Kawai Mary Kawai](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/u/680/240x240!/565e87c867ba810c868b6179.jpg)
By Mary Kawai
Community writer
![Statue of Virgin Mary](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48097/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48097.jpg)
Statue of Virgin Mary
![Main altar](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48096/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48096.jpg)
Main altar
![Memorial Cathedral for World Peace](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48099/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48099.jpg)
Memorial Cathedral for World Peace (Photo: Mary Wislowski)
![Bust of Pope John Paul II](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48098/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48098.jpg)
Bust of Pope John Paul II (Photo: Mary Wislowski)
![Stained glass windows tell Bible stories](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48095/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48095.jpg)
Stained glass windows tell Bible stories (Photo: Mary Wislowski)
![Altar in chapel](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48092/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48092.jpg)
Altar in chapel (Photo: Mary Wislowski)
![Plaque commemorating Father Hugo Lassalle](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48091/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48091.jpg)
Plaque commemorating Father Hugo Lassalle (Photo: Mary Wislowski)
![Pipe organ from City of Cologne, Germany](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48093/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48093.jpg)
Pipe organ from City of Cologne, Germany (Photo: Mary Wislowski)
![View from choir loft](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6803-48094/1000/hiroshima-memorial-cathedral-for-world-peace0-48094.jpg)
View from choir loft (Photo: Mary Wislowski)
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