Pope calls for peaceful use of nuclear energy on Chernobyl 40th anniversary

Vatican News ^ | 26 April 2026 | Devin Watkins

[CondoleezzaProtege]

On April 26, 1986, a reactor exploded at the Soviet-run Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located some 90 kilometers north of Kyiv in Ukraine, killing 31 people immediately and another 15,000 over the next several years from radiation poisoning.

In his appeal, Pope Leo warned about the risk of using increasingly powerful technologies.

He expressed his hopes that discernment and responsible decision-making may be carried out regarding nuclear energy.

“I hope that at all levels of decision-making, discernment and responsibility may always prevail, so that every use of atomic energy may be at the service of life and peace,” said the Pope.

[Sacajaweau]

The Pope’s knowledge of nuclear power exceeds all our expectations..../s

[Herakles]

Nice of him after his religion destroyed nuclear power in the US in the 70s. Thanks for nothing!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

And I want a pony.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I'm surprised. He produces so much natural gas I would have thought he could power the whole world all by himself.

[nuke_road_warrior]

...killing 31 people immediately and another 15,000 over the next several years from radiation poisoning.

The 15,000 number is highly suspect as the Soviet Union was the source of that number, and was desperately trying to convince the rest of the world to send aid money.

[exnavy]

Are we to assume he is trying to help?

[Red Badger]

Using a nuke on Iran would bring peace.......

[Iron Munro]

OPERATION EPIC FURY

MOSTLY PEACEFUL

[Pontiac]

Nice of him after his religion destroyed nuclear power in the US in the 70s. Are you speaking of Christianity in general or Catholicism specifically?

I was around in the 70s and I don't remember Catholics having any stand on nuclear power in any way.

As I remember it, James E. Carter that destroyed nuclear power in this country. He was a Baptist if I remember correctly.

[HYPOCRACY]

The Kamala word salad pope.

[HYPOCRACY]

You can’t hug your kids with nuclear arms.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Anyone who posts anything that this pope says should be punished.

[Omnivore-Dan]

Who does this guy think he is? He is not any closer to God than any of us. He is just a man who pretends he is. He lives in absolute luxury while peasants starve. He is among the Vatican elite who ignore sexual abuse allegations of their priests. Has he said anything about all of the radical muslim commie bastards? He’s a fraud.

[Wilderness Conservative]

The pedo whisperer knows everything.

[CtBigPat]

Have a pony!

[Socon-Econ]

This Pope has gotten way too political; but he is at least bucking the left on this, which has been sabotaging nuclear power for decades.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

“We entrust to God’s mercy the victims and all those who still suffer its consequences,” he said.

Will we ever get a statement from the Pope about the victims of the "Green" energy disaster, like the elderly who die because there isn't enough power to run air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter because Europe intentionally shut down nuclear and other traditional power plants?

[trebb]

When has the Pope been in the news for preaching the Gospels?

He’s what Obama was when he entered politics - A social activist

[Zathras]

When I want to understand a technology, the Pope is my first go-to. /major sar
I think we have finally found someone dumber than Harris.