Pope calls Armenian slaughter '1st genocide of 20th century

VATICAN CITY: Francis has called the slaughter of Armenians 100 years ago by the Ottoman Empire "the first genocide of the 20th century." 

The pronouncement will certainly anger Turkey, which has long denied the deaths constituted a genocide. 

Francis made the pronouncement at the start of a Mass Sunday in the Armenian Catholic rite in St. Peter's Basilica honoring the centenary.