Pope in Armenia to meet descendants of genocide survivors greeted by Benedict XV

The journey from 24 to 26 will take place "within the framework of a trip to the Caucasus in two stages", they will be followed by Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in September.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - There will also be a dozen descendants of the persecuted Armenians who were greeted by Benedict XV among people that Pope Francis will meet next Saturday in Yerevan, Armenia. The encounter will take place during the visit that the Pope will make to the Tzitzernakaberd Memorial Complex, (pictured) which commemorates the genocide of 1915, in the outskirts of the capital.

The visit, reported during a briefing given by the director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, will open the second day of the Pope's trip to Armenia. The program of the visit to the memorial provides, in addition to the meeting with the descendants of those who were hosted in Castel Gandolfo, and with a group of children who will have photos of the persecution.  Francis, accompanied by Catholicos Karekin II will be welcomed by President Sargsyan, present a crown of flowers, recite a prayer and plant a tree.

The trip to Armenia to take place June 24 to 26, he continued Father Lombardi, will take place "within the framework of a two stage trip to the Caucasus", it will be followed by Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in September. This "division" also marked the previous trips of John Paul II to these countries, a sign of disputes that are still very much alive, like the ongoing tensions in the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh caught in a bloody conflict with Azerbaijan.

During the briefing the question on the use of the term genocide surfaced once again. Turkey strongly rejects these term. Father Lombardi used the term "Medz Yeghern", "Great Evil", which is used by the Armenians. He then recalled that speaks to the Joint Declaration signed by John Paul II and Karekin I, cited last year by Francis, speaks of genocide. However, what the Pope will say in Armenia remains unknown as “he never discloses his speeches in advance”.

• Vatican Pope Francis Armenia Georgia Azerbaijan genocide