New Mexico: On the solemn occasion of the 80th anniversary of the world’s first nuclear bomb detonation, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has led a powerful interfaith and civic effort to remember the tragic beginning of the nuclear age and to renew its commitment to peace, healing, and the global abolition of nuclear weapons.
The commemoration centered around July 16, 1945, the date of the Trinity test, when the United States detonated the first atomic bomb in the Jornada del Muerto desert of southern New Mexico. The blast ushered in the nuclear age and left a devastating legacy that continues to affect local communities, especially the "downwinders" residents exposed to radioactive fallout.
At 5:29 a.m. on July 16, the exact time of the Trinity detonation, church bells rang out across New Mexico and the nation. This symbolic gesture, initiated by Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, invited the faithful to pause in prayer and remembrance not only for the lives lost since that day but also for the global risks that nuclear weapons continue to pose.
“The tolling of the bells is both a lament for the past and a call to action for the future,” Archbishop Wester stated. “We must commit ourselves again to a world free of the threat of nuclear annihilation.”
In a deeply significant moment, Archbishop Wester, along with Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces and Bishop James Wall of Gallup, held a private prayer service at the Trinity site itself — now a national historic landmark but still a deeply contested and painful space for many in the region. They prayed for the victims of nuclear testing and war, and for global leaders to work earnestly toward nuclear disarmament.
This act marks one of the few times Catholic bishops have gathered at the test site to pray for peace, sending a strong message about the Church’s commitment to confronting the moral implications of nuclear arms.
In the days leading up to the anniversary, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe hosted an interfaith peace vigil titled “80 Years and Still Waiting: A World Without Nuclear Weapons.” The gathering brought together faith leaders, peace activists, local residents, and downwinder advocates, including Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium.
Cordova, whose community continues to suffer from the health effects of radiation exposure, shared heartbreaking testimonies of cancer, birth defects, and generational trauma. Many affected families have yet to receive compensation or acknowledgment from the federal government, despite recent efforts to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include New Mexico. “The bombs fell once, but their impact has lasted for generations,” Cordova said.
The Church’s message is grounded in the teachings of Pope Francis, who has consistently denounced the possession of nuclear weapons as “immoral” and called for the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals. Archbishop Wester echoed this view, describing the Church’s stance not as political, but as pastoral, ethical, and urgent.
“The Trinity test changed the world,” said Wester. “Now it is time for us to change it again — through prayer, action, and global solidarity for peace.”
The anniversary events included liturgical celebrations, public forums, and artistic expressions. A special Mass in Santa Fe drew hundreds of parishioners and visitors. In Piazza-style gatherings, youth leaders, Indigenous voices, and scientists discussed the ethical consequences of modern nuclear policies and military budgets.
The Church also distributed a spiritual guide for nuclear disarmament, inviting Catholics worldwide to engage in prayer, advocacy, and reflection. Faith communities were urged to write to their legislators, participate in global arms reduction campaigns, and support affected families.
While the events were marked by sorrow and remembrance, they were also imbued with hope and determination. “The Trinity bomb was a sin against creation,” said one interfaith speaker. “But our faith insists that even from the ashes, we can build a new future.”
The Archdiocese’s message is clear: the world does not need more weapons it needs more wisdom, compassion, and courage. As Archbishop Wester concluded: “This anniversary is not only about what happened in the desert 80 years ago. It’s about who we choose to become today.”