These pilgrims came to the Vatican to say that the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been reignited. They wear the mask with the flag of Nagorno-Karabakh, the enclave they're fighting over.
During their visit, they managed to get close enough to the pope to give him a letter. In it, they ask him to intervene to stop this conflict that in recent weeks has left hundreds dead.
VALENTINA KARAKHANIAN
Researcher
“Since many pontiffs have intervened throughout history, and since he was the one who stood out by calling the Armenian genocide by its name, I looked him in the eyes and said, 'Holiness, don't let there be another genocide.'”
YEVA GABRIELYAN
“We ask the pope not to remain silent. We ask him to intervene with his prayers, with his power.”
AZA GEVORGYAN
“We gave him our message, and he replied to us that he is praying for us and he knows about this case. We hope that the international community, and also the pope, will intervene in this case because we want only peace. Armenians want peace, and we want to go back to our countries, safe, and live in peace with our families.”
MERI MARGARYAN
“The last time the world was silent, in 1915, during the First World War, Turkey organized the Armenian genocide, and 1,500,000 Armenians were murdered. This time we don't want history to be repeated.”
“Let us pray together, in silence, for peace in the Caucasus.”
The pope indirectly mentioned the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh during the Angelus on Sept. 27.
However, this group hopes he will take a position.
VALENTINA KARAKHANIAN
Researcher
“We want him to intervene concretely, and to ask or impose, that Azerbaijan and Turkey stop the persecution. Nagorno-Karabakh has never been part of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. It was only part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.”
In 2015, Pope Francis publicly denounced the Armenian genocide, even if Turkey considers those killed merely victims of World War I.
In response, Turkey withdrew its ambassador to the Holy See for 10 days.
During his trip to Armenia, the pope released doves of peace toward Turkey.
JMB
Translation: CT
