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A statement released by US bishops Monday recognizes the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to be commemorated on 24th April 2021.
“April 24 is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, marking the 1915 start of a campaign that resulted in the death of as many as 1.2 million Armenian Christians -- victims of mass shootings, death marches to distant camps, torture, assaults, starvation, and disease,” stated Bishop David Malloy of Rockford, chair of the USCCB’s international justice and peace committee, on Monday.
“Thousands of Armenian children were torn from their families and forcibly converted,” he added. “This horrific tragedy was intended to eliminate the Armenian people and their culture in what has been called the ‘first genocide of the 20th century.”
The Armenian Christians were subjected to torture and other human rights abuses for close to eight years. About 1.5 million people lost their lives.
Over the years, Turkey has maintained innocence, claiming the number of deaths has been exaggerated.
In an April 17 letter, the U.S. Armenian Catholic Church asked President Biden to recognize the genocide.
“On the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide we appeal to you with a keen, existential sense of urgency to recognize the first Genocide of 20th century perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks and request fair reparation for this crime against humanity,” the letter stated.
The letter was signed by among others Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.
Pope Francis in 2015 said the genocide was “three massive and unprecedented tragedies” of the 20th Century.
In his 2016 trip to Armenia, the pope prayed for peace. “A people that suffered so much throughout its history, and faith alone, faith has kept this people on its feet,” he said.
Others who recognized the genocide include Pope Saint John Paull II and Supreme Armenian Patriarch Karekin II.
“The extermination of a million and a half Armenian Christians, in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the twentieth century, and the subsequent annihilation of thousands under the former totalitarian regime are tragedies that still live in the memory of the present-day generation,” the two stated in a common declaration in 2000.
“These innocents who were butchered in vain are not canonized, but many among them were certainly confessors and martyrs for the name of Christ.”
Bishop Malloy on Monday cited Pope Francis’ prayer for peace.
“As we rejoice in the Resurrection during this Easter season, may all people of good will join together on this solemn day of recollection to pray and work for justice and peace and remember anew that eternal life in Christ reigns supreme and forever,” bishop Malloy said while citing Pope Francis’ prayer for peace on Monday.
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