Pope Francis calls Armenian slaughter 'first genocide of the 20th century' [View all]

[DonViejo]

Source: CBC/Associated Press

Turkey summons Vatican ambassador to express its displeasure
The Associated Press Posted: Apr 12, 2015 6:28 AM ET Last Updated: Apr 12, 2015 9:06 AM ET

Pope 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."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pope-francis-calls-armenian-slaughter-first-genocide-of-the-20th-century-1.3029673