Pope Francis’ ‘Genocide’ Comment Incites Anger Among Turkish; Turkey Demands Explanation

Pope Francis is known to be compassionate, slow to anger and tactful. Recently however, his remark on the Turkish mass slaughter of Armenians between 1915 and 1917 as the “first genocide of the century” sparked ire among the Turkish. The Pope uttered the statement during a mass held at St Peter’s Basilica in a centenary commemoration of Ottoman Turk murders of the Armenians.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described the remark to be “inappropriate for the Pope and the authority he holds.” Archbishop Antonino Lucibellow, Vatican envoy to Ankara, has been summoned earlier by Turkey requesting the former for an explanation on the use of “genocide” by the 78-year-old Catholic Church’s leader.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s minister of foreign affairs, labelled Pope’s “genocide comment” as baseless and a deviation from legal and historical reality. He continued that religious authorities were the last places to rouse hatred and resentment.

Massacre vs Genocide

During the first world war when Ottoman Empire collapsed, around 1.5 million of Armenians were slaughtered. Families and supporters of the deceased have long desired for the international communities to recognise such horrific incident as genocide. Many world historians used the word genocide to describe the massacre.

Of course, Turkey does not concede and has instead, stipulated their point of view. Turkey contended that between 300,000 and 500,000 Armenians and “as many Turks died in the civil war when Armenians” rebelled against their Ottoman rulers and gave their allegiance to Russian invaders.

Reuters reports that a Turkish official said the Pope’s comment caused “a problem of trust” in relations with the Vatican and further said “Ankara was deeply sorry and disappointed by the comments.” Doubtless, in Armenia, Pope’s opinion was welcome.

Sky News said Pope Francis had been pressured to utter “genocide” in describing the massacre that occurred a century ago, notwithstanding the risk of losing a significant ally in in defeating Islamist militants. Pope Francis was not the first to have used the word “genocide” in connection with the senseless mass murders. Then-Pope John Paul II, too, chose “genocide” in a joint statement in 2000 with the Armenian patriarch. As expected, the former Pope drew outrage among the Turkish people.

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