Turkey's head of religious affairs, Mehmet Görmez, has criticized Pope Francis's description of the 1915 incidents as "genocide".

Görmez said in Hatay on Monday: "It is upsetting that political lobbies and PR firms around the world have extended [their activities] to religious institutions' rites and prayers.

"If societies start to interrogate each other over past sorrows, the Vatican will suffer more than anyone else."

Pope Francis said on Sunday that "the first genocide of the 20th century" had struck Armenians in a statement which led Turkey to recall its ambassador in Vatican and also summon Vatican's envoy in Ankara.

The Pope made the remarks during Mass in the Armenian Catholic rite at the St. Peter's Basilica, which Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan also attended.

Görmez also expressed his "sorrow" over the Pope's remarks, which he described as "baseless claims".

Armenians are preparing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1915 incidents on April 24.

Turkey's Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek also condemned Pope Francis' remarks on Monday, describing them as "slander" and "discrimination".

"It is a statement which provokes political discrimination, racism and hate speech," Çiçek said.