Prelates, leaders recall Armenian Genocide; Obama mentions Pope

April 26, 2016

Armenian Apostolic and Catholic prelates commemorated the 101th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, in which 1.5 million Armenians perished.

In Armenia, Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, led prayers at Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide memorial, while in Rome, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, presided at a vigil at the Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentino.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley and two Armenian Apostolic prelates recalled the genocide at a prayer service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.

“We wish to acknowledge the specific suffering of so many in the Armenian Genocide as a witness of faith—and to underscore the persecution of Christians still going on today,” said Cardinal O’Malley.

In a statement for Armenian Remembrance Day, President Barack Obama said that “we continue to welcome the expression of views by those who have sought to shed new light into the darkness of the past, from Turkish and Armenian historians to Pope Francis.”

 

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Further information:

• In ricordo del Metz Yegern (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 6)
• Boston Catholics Rally around Armenian Genocide (Armenian Weekly)
• Armenia Marks Genocide Anniversary (azatutyun.am)
• Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day (White House)
• Pope laments Armenian genocide, proclaims 36th doctor of the Church (CWN, 4/13/15)