Pope Francis denounces use of word ‘mother’ in reference to US bomb

Al Weimorts (R), the creator of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, and Joseph Fellenz, lead model maker, look over the prototype before it is painted and tested. (Photo via Wikipedia)

Pope Francis denounces use of the word “mother” in reference to a US-made bomb.

Speaking among students on Saturday, Pope spoke about the Mother of All Bombs, which is officially titled GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB).

"I was ashamed when I heard the name," he said in reference to the bomb, touted as the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal. "A mother gives life and this one gives death, and we call this device a mother. What is happening?"

Pope Francis gives an audience to participants in the meeting organized by the National Peace and Human Rights Coordination Unit at the Paul VI audience Hall on May 6, 2017 in Vatican.   (Photo by AFP)

The bomb actually took nearly 100 lives in a recent US strike in the east of war-ravaged Afghanistan, which marked the first operation use of the weapon.

A cave complex in the Afghan province of Nangarhar was hit by a MOAB, purportedly killing 94 militants with the Daesh Takfiri terror group on April 13.

But that was not all, according to a parliamentarian from the province, Esmatullah Shinwari, who stated that a teacher and his young son had also lost their lives.

The bomb had never been used out of fear that it could hurt or kill civilians, according to Marc Garlasco, a former US military official.

It was dropped from the rear cargo door of a US Air Force Lockheed MC-130 under President Donald Trump, who said he had given the military "total authorization" without specifically stating whether he authorized use of the notorious bomb.

Pope, who has previously censured the Republican president for some of his policies, including his stance on immigration, is set to meet with him on May 24, an encounter that Reuters described as “potentially awkward.”