Pope Francis described the mass killings of Armenians under Ottoman rule in 1915 as "genocide"; a move most likely to draw ire from Turkey, media reports said.
Speaking at Sunday's Mass in the Armenian Catholic rite at Peter's Basilica, he said that "our human family has lived through three massive and unprecedented tragedies."
"The first, which is widely considered 'the first genocide of the 20th Century', struck your own Armenian people," the Pontiff added.
According to him, the other two genocides of the 20th century were "perpetrated by Nazism and Stalinism."
Historians say that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces between 1915 and 1917.
Armenia has repeatedly sought to win international recognition of the killings as the 20th century's first genocide.
Turkey vehemently rejects the claims, arguing that the number of deaths was much smaller.
Ankara said that many of those killed allegedly died in clashes during World War I and that ethnic Turks also suffered in the conflict.
Argentina, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Russia and Uruguay already recognize the Armenian genocide.
[sputniknews.com]
12/4/15
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Αγώνας Αναγνώρισης Τριάδας Γενοκτονιών από την Ολλανδία (διαδικασία διόρθωσης)
Pope Francis has used the word "genocide" to describe mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule in WW1 100 years ago, at a Vatican church service...
Le pape François parle d'un "génocide" des Arméniens...
- Papst spricht von Armenier-"Genozid"...
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Pope sparks Turkish anger by calling Armenian slaughter a 'genocide'...
ReplyDeletePope Francis sparked a diplomatic incident with Turkey on Sunday by calling the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks "the first genocide of the 20th century" and urging the international community to recognize it as such.
Francis, who has close ties to the Armenian community from his days in Argentina, defended his pronouncement by saying it was his duty to honour the memory of the innocent men, women and children who were "senselessly" murdered by Ottoman Turks 100 years ago this month.
"Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it," he said at the start of a Mass in the Armenian Catholic rite in St. Peter's Basilica honouring the centenary.
In a subsequent message directed to all Armenians, Francis called on all heads of state and international organizations to recognize the truth of what transpired and oppose such crimes "without ceding to ambiguity or compromise."
Turkey, which has long denied a genocide took place, immediately summoned the Vatican ambassador to express its displeasure, a Foreign Ministry spokesman in Ankara said on customary condition of anonymity..............ctvnews.ca
12/4/15
"Génocide" des Arméniens: la Turquie rappelle son ambassadeur au Vatican...
ReplyDeleteLe pape François a utilisé dimanche dans le cadre solennel de la basilique Saint-Pierre de Rome le terme "génocide" pour le massacre des Arméniens il y a cent ans, au risque de fortement perturber ses relations diplomatiques avec la Turquie, qui n'a pas tardé à convoquer un représentant du Vatican à Ankara, avant de finalement rappeler son ambassadeur au Vatican, officiellement pour "consultations".....rtbf.be
12/4/15