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Pope Francis I wishes normalizartion of relations to Armenia, Turkey

He urged the young people to treasure the great wisdom of ancestors and try on the role of peacemakers

© EPA/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE

YEREVAN, June 25. /TASS/. Pope Francis I, who is visiting Armenia, has wished normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and peace settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, the mostly Armenian-populated enclave region of Azerbaijan.

He said it in the course of a prayer at the ecumenical ceremony in Yerevan that was also attended by the Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin I.

The Pope urged the young people to treasure the great wisdom of ancestors and try on the role of peacemakers and to promulgate actively the culture of conferences and reconciliation instead of being offside observers of the quo status.

"May the Lord bless your future and may He facilitate the resumption of reconciliation between the Armenian and Turkish peoples, as well as peace in Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.

"It will be highly beneficial for everyone to put efforts into laying the groundwork for the future that will not allow the deceptive force of revenge to swallow itself up," the Pontiff said.

According to him, this will be a future where people "will never tire to create conditions for peace worthy jobs for everyone, care for the needy, and the uncompromising struggle with corruption, which is to be extirpated."

"I came here as a pilgrim from Rome to meet with you and to express the feeling that rises from the bottom of my heart," the Pontiff said.

He thanked the Armenian people "for commitment to the Gospels, often heroic one, which is an invaluable gift to all the Christians.".

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