WORLD’S LARGEST MEDIA OUTLETS RESPOND TO POPE FRANCIS’S STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
by Marianna Lazarian
Tuesday, April 14, 00:39
World’s leading mass media have responded to Pope Francis’s statement
on Genocide of Armenians during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on
April 12.
Pope Francis on Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the slaughter
of Armenians by calling the massacre by Ottoman Turks “the first
genocide of the 20th century” and urging the international community to
recognize it as such. His Holiness called the Genocide of Armenians,
Nazism, and Stalinism as three massive and unprecedented tragedies
of 20th century.
German Deutsche Welle writes: “On the 100th anniversary of the
slaughter of Armenians, Pope Francis has described the mass killing
by the Ottoman Empire as “the first genocide of the 20th century.” The
move could strain diplomatic ties with Turkey.”
Tagesschau, in turn, writes Pope Francis expressed a strong stand on
an explosive political issue by calling the pogroms of Armenians in
Ottoman Turkey as the first genocide of the 20th century.
According to Reuters, Pope Francis described the massacre of as many
as 1.5 million Armenians as “the first genocide of the 20th century”
at a 100th anniversary Mass on Sunday, choosing words that could draw
an angry reaction from Turkey.
AFP writes: “Pope Francis uttered the word “genocide” on Sunday to
describe the mass murder of Armenians 100 years ago, sparking fury
from Turkey which slammed the term as “far from historical reality.”
Commenting on the Pope’s statement, Le Monde writes Turkey offered
its hand to Armenia but did it quite poorly. The liturgy has aroused
a heated response of the Islamic conservative government of Turkey.
Referring to Turkish media, Le Figaro wrote that after Pope Francis’s
statement on Genocide of Armenians, Turkey summoned papal nuncio
for explanations.
Italy press also reflected on the event. Repubblica quotes the Pope
as saying: “It seems that humanity is incapable of putting a halt to
the shedding of innocent blood.”
The Times of Israel writes: ” Pope Francis on Sunday honored the 100th
anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians by calling it “the first
genocide of the 20th century,” a politically explosive declaration that
will certainly anger Turkey. Turkey’s embassy to the Holy See canceled
a planned news conference for Sunday, presumably after learning that
the pope would utter the word “genocide” over its objections.”
“The blunt-speaking Pope on Sunday set off a diplomatic row by calling
the slaughter of Armenians during World War I “the first genocide of
the 20th century.”
While some 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by Ottoman Turks
between 1914 and 1918, politicians including George W. Bush and
Barack Obama — who during his 2008 campaign vowed to call the
slaughter a genocide — have refrained from using the word, fearing
political fallout. Pope Francis, however, had no such fears,” The
Truth Revolt said.
According to CNN, “Pope Francis risked Turkish anger on Sunday by
using the word “genocide” to refer to the mass killings of Armenians
a century ago.”
Fox News says Pope Francis’ comments again show that he is willing to
take diplomatic risks for issues he feels strongly about. In 2014,
he invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents to pray together
for peace at the Vatican.
Acconrding to NBC, “Pope Francis sparked a diplomatic incident with
Turkey on Sunday by calling the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks
“the first genocide of the 20th century.”
“Francis, who has close ties to the Armenian community from his days
in Argentina, defended his pronouncement by saying it was his duty
to honor the memory of the innocent men, women and children who were
“senselessly” murdered by Ottoman Turks 100 years ago this month,”
NBC said.
Pope Francis described the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Turks
as the “first genocide of the 20th century” on Sunday, touching off
a diplomatic furor with Turkey and entering into a tense historical
debate with wider implications for the Vatican’s relations with Islam,
the Wall Street Journal writes.
Los Angeles Times: “A number of countries have issued statements
over the years condemning Turkey’s actions as genocide. Although
President Obama, before his 2008 election, referred several times to
the deaths as genocide, he has not done so as president, maintaining
his predecessors’ reluctance to alienate Turkey, a highly valued ally
in the Middle East.”
USA Today: “The killings are recognized as genocide by a number of
countries around the world, but Turkey’s allies Italy and the United
States have avoided using the contentious term. The United Nations
defined genocide as acts intended to destroy a national, ethnic,
racial or religious group, in whole or in part.”
Russia media also responded to the issue: “Turkey is disappointed at
Pope Francis’s statement on the Genocide of Armenians,” TASS writes.
According to RIA, religious leaders should create environment for
peace and unity of people, but not stir up hatred and confrontation.
Lenta.ru writes Turkey is outraged with Pope Francis’s speech on
Genocide of Armenians. Azerbaijani, Lithuanian, Moldavian, Arab press
have also reflected on the Pope’s statement on Genocide of Armenians.