Pope to visit genocide memorial during June trip to Armenia

Associated Press, The Washington Post

May 13 2016

Image: Pope Francis talks with Poland’s Prime Minister Beata Szydlo during a private audience in the pontiff’s studio at the Vatican, Friday, May 13, 2016. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP Pool via AP) (Associated Press)

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ trip to Armenia in June will include a visit to the genocide memorial complex, a monastery stop in the city of Gyumeri and a meeting with the president.

The Vatican released details of the June 24-25 trip on Friday.

The three-day visit comes a year after the pope sparked a diplomatic incident with Turkey when he termed the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians a genocide. His new plan to visit the genocide memorial on his second day is also likely to stoke tensions with Turkey.

Francis also plans to visit the Armenian Apostolic Church’s seat in Echmiadzin and will conduct a liturgy with Armenian Apostolic Church leader Catholicos Garegin II. Both are significant signs of cooperation with the overwhelmingly dominant local Oriental Orthodox Church.

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© 2016, The Washington Post 

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