Pope made no speech at Tsitsernakaberd, the moment offered thoughts and prayers, Federico Lombardi says
“The second day of Pope visit to Armenia started from Tsiternakaberd Memorial Complex which was a sensitive moment,” Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office told reporters at press conference in Gyumri media center attended by Armenian and foreign reporters.
“The Pope made no speech there [Genocide Memorial Complex], since the moment offered thoughts and prayers. Overall, Pope is more prone to prayers and silence,” Father Lombardi stressed.
Lombardi next informed that while making an inscription in the Book of Honorary Guests of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Pope Francis added his own words to the prepared text sharing his personal experience in these days.
According to him, the Pope couldn’t visit the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute itself, where Benedict XV letter to Ottoman Sultan is kept “That is an important historical document, and Armenians are thankful to him for his intervention to stop the massacres of the Armenians for the sake of their salvation,” Father Lombardi noted.
“This morning we were delighted to see marvelous, effulgent Mount Ararat,” Lombardi said next
He also spoke of the mass in Latin tradition celebrated in Vardanants square of Gyumri, saying that was an historic day for Gyumri.