POPE PLANS TO ATTEND 2015 CEREMONY IN ARMENIA AMID ANKARA'S GENOCIDE PROTEST
13:42 10.06.20130Armenian Genocide, Pope Francis
Leader of the world's Roman Catholics Pope Francis has stated that
he wants to make a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to mark
the 100th anniversary of the 1915 events, despite criticisms from
Turkey after the pope had earlier labeled the events as "genocide"
last week, Today's Zaman reports.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement on Saturday reacting
to the statement by the Pope calling the mass killing of Armenians
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire the "first genocide of the 20th
century."
"What is required from the papacy is to contribute to world peace
under the responsibility of the spiritual post it assumes instead of
picking out hostilities from history," the statement said, expressing
disappointment over the "one-sided" comments by the pope about an
event in the past.
The statement also mentioned that Antonio Lucibello, the Vatican
ambassador in Ankara, had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry on
Friday during which the Turkish side expressed its displeasure over
the statement, calling the pope's remarks last week "unacceptable."
"The importance of the Vatican avoiding taking steps that could
irreparably affect our bilateral relations was emphasized," the
statement also said, mentioning the foreign ministry's message to
Lucibello.
"The first genocide of the 20th century was that of the Armenians,"
Pope Francis was quoted as saying during his meeting with meeting with
Nerses Bedros XIX, Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian
Catholics, who visited him at Vatican on June 3.
Meanwhile, during an official opening ceremony of the Armenian embassy
in the Vatican last week, Pope Francis also stated that he wants
to hold a religious ceremony in Yerevan during the 2015 ceremony,
which would mark the 100th anniversary of the genocide, according to
Today's Zaman.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/10/pope-plans-to-attend-2015-ceremony-in-armenia-amid-ankaras-genocide-protest/
From: A. Papazian
13:42 10.06.20130Armenian Genocide, Pope Francis
Leader of the world's Roman Catholics Pope Francis has stated that
he wants to make a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to mark
the 100th anniversary of the 1915 events, despite criticisms from
Turkey after the pope had earlier labeled the events as "genocide"
last week, Today's Zaman reports.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement on Saturday reacting
to the statement by the Pope calling the mass killing of Armenians
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire the "first genocide of the 20th
century."
"What is required from the papacy is to contribute to world peace
under the responsibility of the spiritual post it assumes instead of
picking out hostilities from history," the statement said, expressing
disappointment over the "one-sided" comments by the pope about an
event in the past.
The statement also mentioned that Antonio Lucibello, the Vatican
ambassador in Ankara, had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry on
Friday during which the Turkish side expressed its displeasure over
the statement, calling the pope's remarks last week "unacceptable."
"The importance of the Vatican avoiding taking steps that could
irreparably affect our bilateral relations was emphasized," the
statement also said, mentioning the foreign ministry's message to
Lucibello.
"The first genocide of the 20th century was that of the Armenians,"
Pope Francis was quoted as saying during his meeting with meeting with
Nerses Bedros XIX, Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian
Catholics, who visited him at Vatican on June 3.
Meanwhile, during an official opening ceremony of the Armenian embassy
in the Vatican last week, Pope Francis also stated that he wants
to hold a religious ceremony in Yerevan during the 2015 ceremony,
which would mark the 100th anniversary of the genocide, according to
Today's Zaman.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/10/pope-plans-to-attend-2015-ceremony-in-armenia-amid-ankaras-genocide-protest/
From: A. Papazian