Pope Gives Recognition to 1915 Armenian Genocide

EREVAN, Armenia, Sep 26, 01 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II today visited a memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide.

In the prayer he offered at the Dzidzernagapert memorial, the Holy Father used the Armenian term "Metz Yeghern," which means genocide. The Armenian people have sought for years to gain international recognition for the fact that 1.5 million people were killed in 1915 in a campaign by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians.

The Holy Father visited the memorial along with Catholicos Karekin II, the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Earlier in the day the Pope had made a courtesy call at the residence of Armenian President Robert Kotcharian.

The Pope's prayer referred to "the terrible violence done to the Armenian people," and asked God for "the healing of wounds that are still open, through the power of your love."

CWN News Briefs
26. september 2001