A: Hey there! Heard any news lately?
B: Nah, just been studying kanji all day. What's up?

A: So, check this out! The new Pope Leo XIV spoke about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and global nuclear weapons.
B: Really? When did he do that?

A: He addressed crowds at the Vatican during a weekly event on Wednesday. He said that even after all these years, such events serve as a reminder about the destruction wars cause, especially nuclear ones.
B: Wow, that's heavy. And what else did he say?

A: Well, considering the current tension between Russia and Ukraine, where there have been nuclear threats from Moscow, Pope Leo expressed hope for peace and trust in brotherhood instead of this idea of "illusory security" based on mutual destruction.
B: That sounds like a powerful message! The last pope, Francis, also had an antinuclear stance, right?

A: Yeah, he did. He appealed for a ban on developing, possessing, and using nuclear weapons. Pope Leo seems to be following in his footsteps.
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Pope Leo XIV has condemned what he called the "illusionary security" of the global nuclear deterrence system as he addressed crowds at the Vatican on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.



The pontiff, who was named the new head of the Roman Catholic Church in May, gave his weekly General Audience on Wednesday.



Speaking in Italian, the working language of the Vatican, Leo said, "Despite the passing of the years, those tragic events constitute a universal warning against the devastation caused by wars and, in particular, by nuclear weapons."



The pope's address comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues with repeated nuclear threats from Moscow, fueling concerns that the risk of nuclear war is higher than at any point since the Cold War.



Leo said, "I hope that in the contemporary world, marked by strong tensions and bloody conflicts, the illusory security based on the threat of mutual destruction may give way to the tools of justice, to the practice of dialogue, and to trust in fraternity."



The previous pope, Francis, who died in April, also took a more proactive antinuclear stance than his predecessors, appealing for a blanket ban on developing, possessing and using nuclear weapons.
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Quiz 1:
Who recently condemned the "illusionary security" of the global nuclear deterrence system?
A. Pope John Paul III
B. Pope Leo XIV
C. Pope Benedict XVI
D. Pope Francis

[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 1: B

Quiz 2:
In what language did Pope Leo XIV give his weekly General Audience?
A. French
B. Russian
C. Italian
D. Spanish

[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 2: C

Quiz 3:
Which one of the following popes took a more proactive antinuclear stance than his predecessors?
A. Pope John Paul III
B. Pope Leo XIV
C. Pope Benedict XVI
D. Pope Francis

[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 3: D