Pope Francis: "In Argentina, when you spoke of the Armenian extermination, they always used the word 'genocide.' I didn’t know another"

During his flight from Yerevan to Rome, on Sunday, June 26, 2016, Pope Francis gave a press conference to the assembled journalists aboard the papal plane. He reflected on his three-day trip to Armenia, his upcoming trips to Azerbaijan and Poland, the role of the Pope emeritus, Christian unity, and the reformation. He also addressed Brexit, the idea of deaconesses, and how the Church might apologize for unjust discrimination toward homosexual persons.

Below is the transcription of the first set of questions, related to the Pope's Armenia trip, in translation by Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com). Some emphasis in the text and a few notes have been added by "Armeniaca."

Rondo à la Turk, Medieval Style and "Joke" Included

On Saturday, June 25, 2016, Turkish deputy prime minister Nurettin Canikli called Francis’ comments of the previous day “greatly unfortunate” and said they bore the hallmarks of the “mentality of the Crusades.” When Francis first used the word genocide last year, Turkey withdrew its ambassador for 10 months and accused the Pope of spreading lies.

Canikli said the term “does not comply with the truth”. “Everyone knows that. We all know it, the whole world knows it, and so do the Armenians,” he added. (*)

What Pope Francis Said in His June 24 Speech

1) The "powerful images" of Yeghishe Charents

It gives me great joy to be here, to set foot on the soil of this beloved land of Armenia, to visit a people of ancient and rich traditions, a people that has given courageous testimony to its faith and suffered greatly, yet has shown itself capable of constantly being reborn.

“Our turquoise sky, our clear waters, the flood of light, the summer sun and the proud winter borealis… our age-old stones … our ancient etched books which have become a prayer” (ELISE CIARENZ, Ode to Armenia). These are among the powerful images that one of your illustrious poets offers us to illustrate the rich history and natural beauty of Armenia. They sum up the rich legacy and the glorious yet dramatic experience of a people and their deep-seated love of their country.

Pope Francis denounces Armenian genocide during visit to Yerevan

Pope Francis denounced what he called the ideologically twisted and planned genocide of Armenians by Ottoman-era Turks a century ago as he arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, on Friday, June 24, 2016, for a symbolic weekend visit to mark the centenary of the massacre.

In the most carefully watched speech of his three-day trip, Francis ad-libbed the politically charged word “genocide” to his prepared text that had conspicuously left it out.

Pope in Armenia: Father Lombardi Says that the Armenian Word "Medz Yeghern” Is “Stronger” than the Term Genocide

 Translated from Italian by Vartan Matiossian

The Armenian word "Medz Yeghern" is even "stronger" than the term genocide. This is what answers Father Federico Lombardi, director of the press office of the Vatican, to the question about why there is still a certain shyness in the Vatican about using the term genocide to indicate the persecution and elimination that the Armenian people suffered in 1915. "Why -- Lombardi asked -- all this obsession to ask about this?" He added: "We know what happened. Nobody rejects that these were horrible massacres and we recognize that. But we do not want to make a trap of political debates because we go to the substance. It is an enormous tragedy."

The G word, Voldemort and the reactionary speech in Turkey

Samim Akgönül 

Once upon a time, I had become a good reader of Harry Potter thanks to my children. I watched, of course, the film series several times. I noticed in this period: Voldemort is normally a person "who must not be named." But everyone, without exception, knows that his name is Voldemort and say it. I remember asking my eldest son "But his name should not be said, how it is possible that everybody say his name?" He answered with a very serious expression: "No, only cowards do not say it."

In Turkey, reactions about the Armenian genocide have become very bizarre in 2015. This has become more visible with the recent statements of the Pope and the decision of the European Parliament.

Denial of the Armenian Genocide Is Brutalizing the World

Stefan Ihrig

 

I have this imaginary Armenian kid sister. Well, actually, she is your kid sister, too -- in the same way we all have this imaginary 8-year-old in Syria who has been afraid for her life for the past few years. We are all humans after all.

My imaginary Armenian kid sister is 4 and a 1/2; talks too much; is easily distracted; for reasons beyond me, does not like raisin cookies; and, for reasons even further beyond me, died in early 1916. Nobody put a pistol to her head and executed her. Her parents were killed, and she simply had no food, no care and no proper shelter. She just wasted away. I cannot get over her death and her suffering, even though I want to, and I need to. I need to remember her and honor her memory, her life and her death. And I also have that Syrian kid to worry about -- or to purposely ignore.