Pope Francis Uses 'Genocide' To Describe Armenian Killing, Turkey Reacts

[hrmjustin]

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Sunday called the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks "the first genocide of the 20th century" and urged the international community to recognize it as such, sparking a diplomatic rift with Turkey.

Turkey, which has long denied a genocide took place, immediately summoned the Vatican ambassador to complain and promised a fuller official response.

"The pope's statement which is far from historic and legal truths is unacceptable," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted. "Religious positions are not places where unfounded claims are made and hatred is stirred."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/12/pope-francis-armenian-genocide_n_7049802.html