Pope Francis has described the mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman Turkish rule in World War I as “genocide” during a visit to Yerevan, Russia Today reported. 

It comes despite reports that he would instead use the word "martyrdom" when referring to the deaths.

The Friday remark is the second time the Pope has referred to the killings as genocide, a term that implies legal and financial implications, which allow the Armenians to demand restitutions.

It follows a similar statement in 2015 which was met with anger from Turkey. 

Friday marks the start of the Pope's three-day visit to the Armenian capital. The pontiff is visiting the small nation in the heart of the Caucasus mountains, which was famous for becoming the first state to accept Christianity as its official religion.

Source: MENA