Pope Francis calls Armenian WW1 killings ‘genocide’ / Turkey anger at Pope Francis Armenian ‘genocide’ claim

The BBC reported that Pope Francis used the word 'genocide' to describe mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule in 1915-16, at a Vatican church service on the 12 April 2015.

Armenia and many historians say up to 1.5m people were systematically killed by Ottoman forces.

The Pope's statement was expected to anger Turkey, which had consistently denied that the killings were genocide. Later on the 12 April 2015 Turkey recalled its envoy to the Vatican.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkey’s Gallipoli centenary events are set to become the latest focal point in the Armenian genocide dispute http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkeys-gallipoli-centenary-events-are-set-to-become-the-latest-focal-point-in-the-armenian-genocide-dispute/

ESO: Background information: Armenia withdraws key peace accords with Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/armenia-withdraws-key-peace-accords-with-turkey/

The Guardian, 12.04.15: Pope Francis calls Armenian slaughter 'first genocide of 20th century' http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/12/pope-francis-armenian-slaughter-first-genocide-20th-century

Deutsche Welle, 12.04.15: Pope describes Armenian killings as 'genocide' on 100th anniversary http://dw.de/p/1F6Ws

France24, 12.04.15: Pope calls Armenian slaughter ‘first genocide of 20th century’ http://www.france24.com/en/20150412-pope-armenian-genocide-mass-turkey-2015/

EurActiv, 13.04.15: Turkey fumes at Pope’s Armenia genocide comments http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/turkey-fumes-popes-armenia-genocide-comments-313700

Euronews, 12.04.15: Pope Francis refers to ‘genocide’ over WWI massacre of Armenians http://www.euronews.com/2015/04/12/pope-francis-refers-to-genocide-over-wwi-massacre-of-armenians/

France24, 13.04.15: Turkey slams pope’s remarks on Armenian genocide http://www.france24.com/en/20150412-turkey-slams-pope-comments-armenian-genocide/

Deutsche Welle, 12.04.15: Turkey angry at Pope's Armenian 'genocide' comments http://dw.de/p/1F6gh

Milliyet, 14.04.15: Pope's comments on genocide inappropriate (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE161424-Pope-s-comments-on-genocide-inappropriate

Avvenire, 14.04.15: Geonocide denial blocks Turkey's path to EU 9via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE161446-Geonocide-denial-blocks-Turkey-s-path-to-EU

BBC News, 14.04.15: Turkey's Erdogan condemns Pope over Armenia 'genocide' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32309044

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 15.04.15: Dispute over genocide of Armenians http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER161565-Dispute-over-genocide-of-Armenians

Deutsche Welle, 14.04.15: Turkey's Erdogan slams Pope Francis over Armenian genocide comments http://dw.de/p/1F8XI

Hürriyet, 22.04.15: Armenians to blame for 1915 massacre (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE161905-Armenians-to-blame-for-1915-massacre

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