Pope Francis says ‘never again’ – reaction of international media on Pope’s visit to Genocide Memorial
YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS. Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia continues remaining in the spotlight of the world’s leading media, reports “Armenpress”.
The international media widely reported Pope Francis’ visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial.
On this occasion, Reuters published an article entitled “Pope says 'never again' to tragedies like Armenian Genocide”. “A somber Pope Francis, "with pain in my heart," paid tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in 1915, an event which he has labeled a genocide, risking Turkey's ire”, Reuters writes. Reuters reports that although on June 24 Pope Francis used the term ‘genocide’, however, till now official Ankara has not reacted to it.
“Never forget: Pope Francis calls on the world to 'defeat evil with good' as he pays his respects to Armenians slaughtered in the Ottoman-era genocide”, The Daily Mail writes. “He stood, head bowed, in silent prayer before an eternal flame as priests blessed him with incense and a choir sang haunting hymns”, reports The Daily Mail referring to Pope’s visit to the Genocide Memorial. The Malta Independent writes: “Pope Francis demanded that the world never forget the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians as he paid his respects at the country's imposing genocide memorial after declaring the slaughter a planned "genocide" to annihilate an entire people”.
The Wall Street Journal says during his visit to the Genocide memorial, Pope Francis met the descendants of the Genocide survivors. The news agency quoted Pope’s note left in the Honorary Guest Book: “Never more there will be tragedies like this”.
“The world must never forget the victims of the Armenian Genocide”, Radio Liberty writes. “May God protect the memory of the Armenian people. Memory should never be watered-down or forgotten. Memory is the source of peace and the future”, the news agency quoted Pope’s words.
ABC News writes Pope Francis laid a wreath and prayed in the Tsitsernakaberd. The news agency writes Pope Francis chatted with descendants of Armenian orphans who were sheltered at the papal summer residence south of Rome at the start of the 20th century.
Pope Francis visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial, accompanied by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Garegin II.
Pope Francis laid a wreath at the Memorial and prayed. The Pope laid flowers with the President and Catholicos Garegin II at the Eternal Flame, where clergymen performed an intercessional ritual for the canonized martyrs.
After that Pope Francis singed the Honorary Guest Book in the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute by writing: “Here I pray with pain in my heart, so that never more will there be tragedies like this, so that humanity does not forget and knows how to overcome the evil with good. May God grant the beloved Armenian people and the entire world peace and consolation. May God protect the memory of the Armenian people. Memory should not be diluted or forgotten. Memory is source of peace and the future”.
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