(CNN) Pope Francis, visiting the nation of Armenia this weekend, again described the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Empire forces during World War I as a genocide and prayed that such a tragedy never happen again.

The Pope's remark, using the term "genocide," came Friday during an address at the presidential palace in Yerevan, the capital, at the start of his three-day trip to the country.

Turkey is vehemently opposed to using that term to describe the Armenian deaths -- arguing that it was a war and there were losses on both sides.

Pope Francis' reference to the Armenian mass killing as "genocide" is a "political statement" that reflects a crusader mentality, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said, according to state broadcaster TRT.

He said the Pope's comment "is not objective" and it does not reflect reality.

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