Pope Francis In Turkey

Pope Francis is wrapping up his trip to Armenia with a Sunday liturgy in the Apostolic cathedral celebrated by his Orthodox hosts and a visit to Armenia's closed border with Turkey amid new tensions with Ankara over his recognition of the 1915 "genocide."

A sombre Pope Francis, "with pain in my heart," paid tribute today to the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in 1915, an event which he has labelled a genocide, risking Turkey's ire.

The vast gates swung open and the host personally welcomed his distinguished visitor with all the pride of someone who has just acquired a new home.

Pope Francis said on Friday fighting hunger and poverty, rather than military intervention alone, were key to stopping Islamist militants carrying out "barbaric violence" in Syria and Iraq.

Pope Francis begins his first visit to Turkey on Friday in a challenging trip aimed at building bridges with Islam and supporting the embattled Christian minorities of the Middle East.

Pope Francis is wrapping up his trip to Armenia with a Sunday liturgy in the Apostolic cathedral celebrated by his Orthodox hosts and a visit to Armenia's closed border with Turkey amid new tensions with Ankara over his recognition of the 1915 "genocide."

A sombre Pope Francis, "with pain in my heart," paid tribute today to the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in 1915, an event which he has labelled a genocide, risking Turkey's ire.

The vast gates swung open and the host personally welcomed his distinguished visitor with all the pride of someone who has just acquired a new home.

Pope Francis said on Friday fighting hunger and poverty, rather than military intervention alone, were key to stopping Islamist militants carrying out "barbaric violence" in Syria and Iraq.

Pope Francis begins his first visit to Turkey on Friday in a challenging trip aimed at building bridges with Islam and supporting the embattled Christian minorities of the Middle East.