Pope prays at Armenia memorial after denouncing 'genocide'
Posted June 24, 2016 7:00 am
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) - Pope Francis heads to Armenia's genocide memorial for a prayer service, fresh from his ad-libbed declaration that the Ottoman-era massacre of Armenians a century ago was a planned "genocide."
Francis is due to lay a floral wreath at the memorial Saturday and greet descendants of the Armenian orphans who were taken in by Pope Pius XI in the 1920s and housed at his summer residence south of Rome.
Francis drew a standing ovation upon his arrival Friday in Armenia when he denounced what he called the ideologically twisted, planned "genocide" of Armenians starting in 1915. His prepared speech had avoided using the politically-charged term, which Turkey rejects.
After the genocide memorial visit, Francis heads to northwest Gyumri for his only public Catholic Mass, followed by a prayer for peace.
Pope Francis, left, and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, right, review honour guards shortly upon arrival to Zvaretnots airport in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, June 24, 2016. Pope Francis is in Armenia for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis kisses the Holy Book as he visits the Apostolic Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, June 24, 2016. Pope Francis is in Armenia for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis leaves a plane shortly upon his arrival to Zvaretnots airport in Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, June 24, 2016. Pope Francis is in Armenia for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis arrives at Yereven's Zvaretnots airport, Armenia, Friday, June 24, 2016. Pope Francis is in Armenia for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, April 12, 2015 file photo, Pope Francis, left, is greeted by the head of Armenia's Orthodox Church Karekin II, during an Armenian-Rite Mass on the occasion of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican. Pope Francis is making his first foray into the former Soviet Union with a weekend visit to Armenia, a year after he riled Turkey by declaring the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians genocide and amid fresh tensions with rival Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, April 12, 2015 file photo, Pope Francis, left, is greeted by the head of Armenia's Orthodox Church Karekin II, during an Armenian-Rite Mass on the occasion of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican. Pope Francis is making his first foray into the former Soviet Union with a weekend visit to Armenia, a year after he riled Turkey by declaring the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians genocide and amid fresh tensions with rival Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, April 12, 2015 file photo, the head of Armenia's Orthodox Church Karekin II, second from left, flanked by Catholicos Aram I, left, walks past Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, center, during an Armenian-Rite Mass celebrated by Pope Francis to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican. Pope Francis is making his first foray into the former Soviet Union with a weekend visit to Armenia, a year after he riled Turkey by declaring the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians genocide and amid fresh tensions with rival Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis, left, and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan smile during welcoming ceremony at Zvaretnots airport at Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, June 24, 2016. Pope Francis is in Armenia for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis, left, and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan smile as they talk to each other during welcoming ceremony at Zvaretnots airport at Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, June 24, 2016. Pope Francis is in Armenia for a three-day visit. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.