His Holiness Pope Francis: The memory of the tragedy cannot be erased and is a source of peace and future prospects
The Supreme Pontiff Beared the Concerns of the Armenian People and all the People Who Have Been Subjected to Genocides and Massacres
Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
His Holiness Pope Francis, the Pope of Mercy and Humility, Father of the poor, the marginalized, and the destitute, carried the message of humanity and of every human being on this earth. He defended their rights and sought to preserve their dignity, being the voice crying out in the wilderness, seeking with every word and every step to prepare the way of the Lord so that He might make His paths straight.
He addressed many issues and concerns with hope, as a listening ear and a warm shelter for all the people who have suffered and continue to suffer due to tragedies, wars, conflicts, and disasters. With his compassionate smile, he transformed pain into hope and despair into reassurance... the reassurance in the constant presence of our Heavenly Father.
The Armenian cause was not forgotten by the Supreme Pontiff. He stood by the Armenian people with his Prayers, support, and Apostolic visit to Armenia. He was a source of strength, inspiration, and motivation to move forward in the search for justice.
Peaceful Greetings to the Armenians
Sources told the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Media that Pope Francis was the one who declared the massacre of the Armenian people as the first genocides of the 20th century, during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on April 12, 2015.
On the same date, His Holiness declared the Armenian Saint Gregory of Narek as "Doctor of the Church." He also blessed a statue of this Saint in the Vatican on April 18, 2018.
A Love Visit to Armenia
Between June 24 and 26, 2016, His Holiness Pope Francis visited Armenia on an Apostolic journey, during which he described the Armenian massacres as "genocide," the second time His Holiness had used this term, after his first use had angered Turkey.
"The memory of the tragedy cannot be erased," the Supreme Pontiff emphasized during his visit to the Tsitsernakaberd monument to honor the victims of the Armenian massacres in Yerevan.
In the Genocide Museum and Memorial, at a hill overlooking the Armenian Capital, His Holiness prayed for the recurrence of the tragedies of the Armenian people. He wrote in the visitors' book in Italian, "Here, with sorrow in my heart, I pray that tragedies like these will never be repeated, that humanity will never forget and will know how to overcome evil with good."
In his peace-filled approach, His Holiness exchanged conversations with the descendants of Armenian orphans who had taken refuge at a Papal summer residence south of Rome in the early 20th century. He wrote in the visitors' book, "I pray that God grant peace and solace to the beloved Armenian people and to the entire world. May God preserve the memory of the Armenian people. A memory that must never be forgotten or faded. Memory is a source of peace and hope for the future."
But there is no better future for the Armenian people and all the people who have been subjected to genocides and massacres throughout history except through justice, which remains unknown. Despite all the efforts and attempts made to achieve justice, will the world ever witness tangible results that will heal the pain of every suffering person?