Pope Francis equated to the Armenian victims of Stalinism and Nazism – Kommersant

Pope Francis I during the Mass in the Basilica of St. Peter this morning called the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey, “the first genocide of the twentieth century.” Second, judging by the words of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Francis believes genocide holocaust, the third – the crimes of Stalinism.

Pope Francis I noted the 100th anniversary of the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire a special Mass for the Armenian Rite in the Basilica of St. Peter. It was also attended by the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Cilicia Catholicosate) Aram I and Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church Nerses Bedros XIX. As a guest of honor in it was attended by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

interest to the event by the media and analysts was expressed long before the actual event. Intrigue everyone believed mention whether Francis I during the ceremony the word “genocide” or not. Dad said. These killings of 1.5 million Armenians during World War I in the Ottoman Empire, “the first genocide of the XX century”, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, uniting about 1.2 billion people around the world, said that the world has experienced “three enormous and unprecedented tragedy “in the XX century. “The first, which is widely regarded as” the first genocide of the XX century “, has fallen to your own people,” – said the pope, mentioning that two other tragedies that he had in mind – the Holocaust and Stalinism. Calling the event “senseless slaughter”, the Pope added that it is imperative that the memory of the genocide lived. “In fact, it is very important in this is our duty to respect their memory, because when memory disappears, it means that evil allows wounds to fester. Try to hide or deny the evil – the same that allow the wound to bleed, not bandaging it ».

« It seems that the human family refuses to learn from their own mistakes caused by the power of terror, so now there are those who are trying to destroy the other with the help of a few, and with the tacit consent of those who simply do nothing, “- said the head of the Church of Rome.

The Vatican is not the first again expresses its clear position on the situation in Armenia during the First World War. Actually, the phrase “the first genocide of the XX century” is taken from the joint declaration of the Holy. John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II, signed in 2001. The Pope Francis spoke of the “Armenian genocide” in the past year, however, in a private conversation, but even this has caused quite a loud reaction from Turkey, which is very sensitive about the interpretation of those events. However, even before the election, he repeatedly called the event “mass murder” and called on Turkey to recognize them as such.

Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Vatican ambassador in Ankara after today’s announcement of the Pope. Reuters reported citing a senior Turkish officials.

Armenian Genocide officially recognized by 22 countries, including Armenia, Russia and the Vatican. In a number of countries, including Switzerland and Greece, the denial of genocide is a criminal offense. At the regional level, the authorities recognize the genocide of Scotland, Catalonia, a number of provinces in Canada, Bulgaria and more than 40 US states.

Nicholas Zubov