systemic genocide of the armenians during the first world war. but as i said, the turks have always denied it. it's important to note that in fact pope francis was, as you mentioned, merely referring to a statement made by pope john paul pope ii in december, 2001. it certainly is not a statement without precedent. it is one that clearly has riled turkish sentiment. errol? >> ben, rosemary here. what's the pope hoping to achieve by raising this sensitivity issue that dates back a century? what's the likely next move from turkey on this? >> reporter: this really, rosemary, is in line with the approach taken by pope francis wh who has never shied away from controversy. yesterday there was a special mass to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the beginning of the apartment massacres in what