Vatican spokesman reflects on nuclear crisis

(March 21, 2011) Nuclear energy is an immense resource for man but the questions about its risks must not be neglected, said the Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, made observation issue in the latest edition of "Octava Dies", a weekly programme on Vatican television, CTV. He spoke about the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and the resulting damage to the power plant of Fukushima that has triggered a nuclear crisis. As authorities collate the casualties, the toll steadily rises. Japanese authorities say more than 8,600 people are confirmed dead and 13,200 are missing. Fr. Lombardi expressed admiration for the preparedness of the Japanese people for natural disasters like earthquakes, but noted that “on this occasion Japan's technological progress has manifested a weak point, that was, in a certain sense, unexpected." “Nuclear energy is an immense natural resource that man tries to use in his service, but if it gets out of control it rebels against him," the priest said, adding no one better than the Japanese know the effects of a nuclear devastation. Therefore “it is right and obligatory to return to reflect on the correct use of technological power, on its risks, on its human price,” Fr. Lombardi added.