Pope to visit genocide memorial during June trip to Armenia
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Pope Francis' trip to Armenia in June will include a visit to the genocide memorial complex, a monastery stop in the city of Gyumeri and a meeting with the president.
The Vatican released details of the June 24-25 trip on Friday.
The three-day visit comes a year after the pope sparked a diplomatic incident with Turkey when he termed the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians a genocide. His new plan to visit the genocide memorial on his second day is also likely to stoke tensions with Turkey.
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Francis also plans to visit the Armenian Apostolic Church's seat in Echmiadzin and will conduct a liturgy with Armenian Apostolic Church leader Catholicos Garegin II. Both are significant signs of cooperation with the overwhelmingly dominant local Oriental Orthodox Church.