Sunday, June 26 2016 08:19

 The Vatican is strongly denying Turkish claims that Pope Francis has adopted a “mentality of the Crusades” by recognizing the Genocide of Armenians.

 

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said nothing in Pope Francis’ texts or words during his Armenian trip showed any hostility to Turkey and in fact were infused with calls for Armenia and Turkey to build bridges of peace and reconciliation.

“The pope is not doing Crusades,” he said Sunday. “He has said no words against the Turkish people.”

If someone is carefully listening and reading what he says, he/she will find nothing there to elaborate his words as “spirit of the Crusades,” Lombardi said. “I can urge to clearly read and understand what the Pope said and wrote. I understand there are different impressions on the problems and tension, however, what the Pope said is directed towards creating grounds between the people. He prayed for this. He didn’t say anything against the Turkish people, he spoke about the reconciliation of the Armenian people and Turks”, Lombardi said. Moreover, Lombardi urged to avoid using “the spirit of the Crusades” expression and said “Pope has never been on a Crusade, he tries to build peace rather than to wage war”.

 

On Saturday Turkish deputy prime minister Nurettin Canikli called Francis’ comments “greatly unfortunate” and said they bore the hallmarks of the “mentality of the Crusades.”He called the comments “greatly unfortunate” and said they bore the hallmarks of the “mentality of the Crusades”.

Federico Lombardi highlighted the Divine Liturgy at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as a good opportunity for the common prayer of the Armenian Apostolic and the Catholic Churches. He called the Papal visit very important, historical and Biblical. The leaders of the two churches will come out with a joint statement after the visit.  

 

In response to ArmInfo’s question about the Pope’s impressions from his visit to Armenia. Lombardi said he greatly enjoyed his visit, he was warmly welcomed by the leadership and people of Armenia, and he was the guest of Karekin II. “We had no problems in this country,” he said.