Monday, April 13 2015 20:39

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.