Pope Francis visit Genocide Memorial in Armenia

                

Francisco pope visited today (25) on the second day of visit to Armenia, the Memorial of Genocide, located in Tzitzernakaberd. On site, the pontíficie said that this time in history should be remembered that similar episodes do not recur.

"Memory is a source of peace and future. Here I pray, with pain in the heart, so that never again there are tragedies like this, so that humanity will not forget and learn to overcome evil with good. May God grant to the beloved Armenian people and the world peace and consolation. May God keep the memory of the Armenian people, "he said.

The Catholic leader visited the site, next to the highest authority of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, and the country's president, Serzh Sargsyan. Francis placed a wreath in front of the monument, where a group of children carrying placards with the names of the dead of 1915. He also met with descendants of the survivors who were housed in Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence, by Pope Benedict XV.

On the first day of the trip to the country, Francis highlighted the word "genocide" in his speech in the capital Yerevan, in the Presidential Palace, to refer to the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire a century ago, even though the word could trigger a diplomatic unease with Turkey, as happened last year.

The Holy See did not include the term "genocide" in Francis of speeches, but the Catholic leader would not give up the word on the Armenian authorities.