“Metz Yeghern is the classic word term used by the Armenian people,”– said Director of the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office Federico Lombardi at the press conference with the reporters on June 24, referring to the speech of Pope Francis. He noted that the Pope had no reason not to use the term “genocide”, “It’s a part of the reality that is already clear and in the same circle as the Pope has said. Each of us knows what a tragedy it is. The Pope has referred to it many times in the past. The reality is clear and we have never denied the reality.”
The journalists noticed that the text prepared for the Pope did not have a statement about the Armenian Genocide. Federico Lombardi replied that the Pope has decided to add this part, “The pope is free to amend anything, until the last moment we are giving the text to hem to check. It is clear that the Pope has decided to add this word, he had also added other words. If I serve the Pope, I must leave him to choose rather than compel him.”
Ami CHICHAKYAN
