Pope in Armenia for three-day visit

(ANSA) - Rome, June 24 - Pope Francis arrived in Armenia's capital on Friday for a three-day apostolic visit to the "first Christian country", the 14th international trip of his pontificate.
    The visit will focus on consolidating relations with the Armenian Apostolic Church and encouraging the local minority Catholic Church, as well as recognition and support of Christian "martyrs" killed in persecution and massacres such as that of the Ottoman government in the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
    Pope Francis's willingness to use the term genocide has created tension with Turkey, which refuses to use the term genocide to describe the event.
    Pope Francis will meet on Friday with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at the presidential palace in Yerevan and give a speech.
    He will then meet with the Oriental Orthodox patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, at the apostolic palace in Etchmiadzin, where he will be staying during his visit.