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Press Review


Predictably, the Vatican Mass dedicated to the centenary of the Armenian genocide makes front-page headlines in Tuesday’s Armenian newspapers. They welcome and attach great importance to Pope Francis’s sermon read out at the start of the ceremony.

“It is probably fair to say that never before has the world received such a power message on the need to recognize the Armenian genocide,” writes “Haykakan Zhamanak.” The paper says it can therefore be considered “the most memorable event” in the long-running process of international recognition of the genocide.

“168 Zham” similarly describes the pope’s statement as “one of the most important events” in ongoing commemorations of the genocide centennial. “Armenia has again found itself at the center of the world’s attention,” writes the paper. “On a totally different plane. What happened had not only a political but also extremely serious civilizational significance, which will inevitably reflect on the process of international recognition of the genocide.”

“Sunday’s event at the Vatican is primarily important in the sense that our country and our culture and history are being put into an international context,” editorializes “Aravot.” “The Vatican is not just a state. It is the spiritual center of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. Its influence goes beyond the boundaries of the Catholic world.” The paper also considers very important the pope’s decision to declare the 10th century Armenian clergyman Gregory of Narek a 36th “doctor of the universal church.”

“It is difficult to overestimate the importance of what happened on Sunday at the main shrine of the Catholic Church: St. Peter’s basilica,” writes “Hayots Ashkhar.” The paper calls the papal Mass an unprecedented development of global significance.

“Zhoghovurd” denounces Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s claims that Europe has no moral right to demand Turkish recognition of the Armenian genocide because European history has more “shameful pages.” “This is an overt challenge to Europe and, in this sense, a good opportunity for us to act,” comments the paper. It says it is imperative for Europe to “counter this cynical behavior by the Turkish side.”

(Tigran Avetisian)

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