Pope Francis among people in St Peter’s Square
Pope Francis reiterated the words of Pope John Paul II during a Mass at St Peter’s Basilica on the 100th year since the start of Armenian executions in Turkey. Referring to three massive tragedies of the 20th century, Francis said, “The first, which is widely considered ‘the first genocide of the 20th Century’, struck your own Armenian people.”
The BBC has analysis of the event and a video of Francis at St Peter’s Basilica.
The BBC also reports that Turkey has withdrawn their ambassador to Rome. The Turkish government disagrees with historians on the death count (estimated at 1.5 million) and claims that the military violence was part of a civil war, not ethnic cleansing.
The Guardian has a video of Francis processing and his full remarks.
Is this another inspirational moment by the new Pope? Has Pope Francis changed your perspective on the Roman Catholic church?
Posted by David Streever