Your trusted source

“All of you perhaps noticed a little addition by the Pope, as he used the word Genocide in the President’s Office. The Pope had no reason not to use the word Genocide during his trip to Armenia”, - said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office in a briefing for Armenian and international journalists in the evening of June 24.

“The Pope added one more observation, which was that Genocide had been the first among the catastrophic events in the past century. He added few other words, too, [saying] that it was the terrible tragedy of the past century and the big powers had not yet acknowledged their share of responsibility”, - the chief Vatican press officer added.

Father Lombardi also mentioned that the Pope said what he felt appropriate.

“He prepared, read it, and we have obviously said that the Pope could also change the texts in the last minute. We are giving the text but he can change it in its sole discretion so get ready for surprises, as he can say what his heart commands and that can even be shocking. And this time, too, he changed the text”, - Lombardi says.

According to Lombardi, no one can decide what the Pope should say, he says what he things.

The director of the Holy See Press Office was also asked by the journalists what reaction from Turkey they anticipated after the Pope’s statement, since the last time even the diplomatic demarche lasted for a long time, as Vatican was left without a Turkish ambassador for ten months.

“I cannot speak for Turkey, I can say what the Pope said. You know what the Pope said, he always speaks in favor of peace and reconciliation among different cultures. Here he spoke in the same style. New wars should ne avoided, the lessons of the past need to be understood in order not to allow their repetition… Many people did not get the lessons of the past and all that shall be recalled in the name of peace, not in order to unleash a debate and open up new conflicts. And this has been the Pope’s goal”, - Father Lombardi concluded.