Pope Francis Describes Armenian Massacre as 'First Genocide of the 20th Century'

Pope Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics, described the Armenian massacre as the 'first genocide of the 20th century' on the eve of the centenary commemoration of the event. According to the news agency, the Pope, who has had strong ties with the Armenian community since his days living in Argentina, defended his statement and added that it is his duty to honor the men, women, children, clergy, and priests who were killed without reason by the Ottoman Turks. The leader of the Catholics added that 'covering up and concealing evil is like leaving a bloody wound untreated.' The Pope made these remarks at the beginning of Sunday prayers at St. Peter's Church during a memorial service organized by Catholic Armenians for this occasion. Historians estimate the number of victims of the Armenian genocide, which occurred around World War I at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, to be up to one and a half million, and many scholars and researchers consider this event to be the first genocide of the 20th century. However, Turkey avoids using the term 'genocide' (or 'genocide') to describe this event, insisting that the victim count is exaggerated and that the deceased were victims of civil war and unrest. The Turkish embassy in the Vatican canceled a previously scheduled press conference upon learning that the Pope intended to refer to the event using the term 'genocide' in his speech. The Ankara government also rejected requests to answer media questions on this matter. Several European countries have recognized the Armenian massacre at the beginning of the 20th century as 'genocide,' but the United States and Italy are exceptions that, as current strategic allies of Turkey, avoid using the term 'genocide' for this event. The Vatican also places special importance on its relations with Turkey, a moderate Muslim country, especially since Turkey condemns the killing of Christians in neighboring Iraq and Syria by extremist Islamists. However, according to the Associated Press, the Pope's willingness to upset Ankara with his statements once again showed that he is ready to take risks over beliefs to which he is deeply committed. The news agency also reports that the Pope had previously made a similar appeal following violence in Gaza, asking the presidents of Israel and Palestine to pray for peace between the two sides in the Vatican. Pope Francis is not the first leader of the Catholics to call the Armenian massacre a 'genocide.' In his Sunday remarks, he referenced a statement signed by Pope John Paul II and Karekin II, the leader of the Armenian Church, 14 years ago in 2001, which referred to the massacre as 'the first genocide of the 20th century.' The definition of 'genocide' has long been a subject of dispute. Less than seven decades ago, in 1948, the United Nations defined genocide and other actions aimed at destroying a nation or ethnic and religious groups as 'genocide.' However, there are still disagreements over the use of the term 'genocide' regarding specific instances of massacres and genocides. In his Sunday remarks, the Pope identified the Armenian massacre as the first of three well-known genocides of the last century, occurring before the 'genocide' of the Jews (the Holocaust) and the Stalin-era purges. According to the Pope, after these three genocides, other genocides occurred, including in Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi, and Bosnia. The Pope then added: 'It seems that the human family has refused to learn from its mistakes that have led to the prevalence of the law of terror, resulting in actions by those who today, with the help of a few but in the silent complicity of others who merely watch, eliminate others.' According to the Associated Press, Pope Francis has often condemned the 'silent complicity' of the international community in the face of recent killings of Christians and other religious minorities by extremist Islamists. On the eve of the centenary of the Armenian genocide, which will be officially observed on April 24 (corresponding to Ordibehesht 4), Armenia and many people of Armenian descent around the world have joined a campaign seeking global consensus on the use of the term 'genocide' regarding the Armenian massacres.