Pope Francis’s reference to the 1915 Armenian massacres in the Ottoman Empire as “the first genocide of the 20th century” was part of an international conspiracy against Turkey’s government, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu claimed on Wednesday.
“Currently, an evil front is being formed against us. Now the pope has joined this conspiracy,” “Hurriyet Daily News” quoted him as telling members of the ruling AKP party who will run in Turkey’s general elections slated for June 7.
Davutoglu said the anti-AKP “front” consists of not only external powers but also Turkey’s two main opposition parties .
The AKP government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted angrily to the pope’s statement made at a Vatican Mass dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. It accused Francis of distorting history and recalled Turkey’s ambassador to the Holy See in protest.
“We are ready to discuss historical issues, but we will not let people insult our nation through history,” said Davutoglu.
Erdogan similarly condemned the pontiff on Tuesday, warning him to not repeat the “mistake.”
Francis appeared to defend his stance the day after the landmark liturgy in St. Peter’s basilica attended by Armenia’s top political religious leaders. Speaking at a morning Mass, he said the Catholic Church is right to spread a “message of frankness and Christian courage” around the world.
“We cannot keep silent [about] what we have seen and heard," Francis said, according to Radio Vatican. He cited the examples of the apostles Peter and John, who he said defied threats to their life to preach the truth.