Two thousand Gypsies in audience with the Pope

Vatican Radio ^ | June 10, 2011

[NYer]

Members of the Roma, Sinti, Manouches, Kale, Yenish and Travellers communities from 20 European are taking part in a pilgrimage to Rome to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of their patron, Blessed Ceferino Gimenez - including an audience with the Pope.

One of the main organisers of the event is the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. The Vatican office has long been at the forefront of promoting the rights of Gypsy communities and fostering integration in broader European society. Emer McCarthy spoke to Council President, Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò. Listen:

Q: Would you like to tell us where this idea of the Holy Father to receive in audience a delegation of European Gypsies came from?

The idea came after a private Audience that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI granted me. In his pastoral solicitude for the poor, the Holy Father manifested his particular concern about the Gypsy minority and expressed his desire to meet them in the Vatican, thus entrusting the promotion of such event to this Pontifical Council. Our Dicastery then requested the collaboration of the Foundation “Migrantes” of the Italian Episcopal Conference, as well as of the Diocese of Rome and the Community of Sant'Egidio. The group of Gypsies that we expect consists of about 2000 persons, who will be here in Rome, also to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the martyrdom and the 150 years of the birth of Blessed Zeffirino Giménez Malla (1861-1936). He is the first gypsy martyr of the faith, of the Spanish origin.

Q: What significance do you think this gesture of the Pope assumes in a European context where many countries are working to promote the integration of Gypsies, but suspicions and anti-gypsy episodes persist?

As the Holy Father is keen to emphasize, the Church has the mission to be hospitable and to help Christians to overcome any feeling of mistrust, fear, or worse, rejection of the Gypsies. The Church, therefore, supports every good effort, with confidence, aimed at promoting the recognition of the minority rights of the Gypsies. In addition, she advocates the authentic integration of this people and tries to help them integrate into the society, while maintaining their cultural identity. The Church shall not, then, cease to remind that they too are called to assume their proper responsibilities.

In recent decades, there has been among young gypsies a certain growing awareness of their proper dignity and desire for greater involvement in decisions that affect them. It is a reality, also perceived by the Council of Europe and other International Organizations, which offer support- programs to the Gypsy people to emerge from exclusion and to participate fully, in the rights and duties of the society. Certainly, there is still much to be done to make more useful the tools available to International Organizations and States for this purpose.

Q: At what stage remains the development of a specific pastoral care, dedicated to Gypsy populations?

The specific pastoral care of Gypsies has the fundamental task of evangelizing and bringing Christ to them. But, this does not mean that the Church can shirk her responsibility in the social realm and duty to denounce the poor conditions they live in and discriminations they are subjected to. In the face of challenges rising from the Gypsy community, then the Church is called to find adequate new ways and methods to be effective in her ministry. One of the ways of doing so, is to insist on the quality of relations between Gypsies and the society, which must be based on mutual respect, personal knowledge, acceptance and recognition of legitimate differences. It is certainly not an easy task, but pastoral workers, priests, deacons and religious men/women do so with enthusiasm. Fruits of this pastoral work can already be seen in the number of vocations emerging from the Gypsy populations. For example, a few months ago the Holy Father nominated the first gypsy Bishop in India, and there are 2 Vicars general, 25 priests and 30 religious nuns. In fact, even the local Churches are becoming more sensitive to this specific pastoral care and they do cooperate with International Organizations, Religious Congregations and Movements in this regard.

Q: What is the best way that you would propose to promote the integration of Gypsies in European countries?

Integration is not a one-way process. The society as well as Gypsies should be willing to follow the paths of dialogue and mutual enrichment, which allow us to evaluate and embrace positive aspects of each side.

Among the factors that can contribute to starting the integration of Gypsies, enabling them to participate actively in social, economic and political life, I would like to mention, among others, training, education and professional qualification. Governments and local authorities already offer them access to school education, which will contribute to develop mutual understanding and acceptance among children and young Gypsies and non-Gypsies. The European Union has launched a training program of social and cultural mediators for Gypsies.

The Church has been active in this field through some Religious Congregations and ecclesial Movements. For example, in Europe there are now 14 Salesian communities, working to make children and young Gypsies protagonists of their own human, social and Christian development. I can also mention the education Centres such as Bardejov and Košice in Slovakia, Kazincbarczika in Hungary, Stara Zagora in Bulgaria, Havivarov in the Czech Republic and Tirana in Albania.

Moreover, to promote their social integration, it is necessary to raise awareness, aimed at creating a positive image of the Gypsies, of their cultural identity and values, such as the sense of the family, respect for elders, love for music, dance, etc..

Since this is a process that involves two parties, I would insist that it is also necessary on the part of Gypsies a great deal of trust, commitment and participation.

[NYer]

Pope Benedict XVI waves during an audience dedicated to European gypsies belonging to various ethnic groups, such as Roma, Sinti, Manouche, and Kaleon, at the Paolo IV hall in the Vatican. The pope has called for "a new page" to be written in the history of the Roma community in Europe after "painful" events in the past, urging the nomads to integrate.

Pope Benedict XVI greets a young gypsy girl after she performed, during an audience he held with members

[UB355]

I hope they hide the silver

[Farmer Dean]

I hope the Pope still has his ring.

[Radio Free American?]

But every night all the men would come around...and lay their money down.

[EnquiringMind]

OMGosh, I am laughing out loud!

[CrazyIvan]

What’s “where’s my wallet?” in Latin?

[AnAmericanMother]

Ubi est peram mihi?

[AnAmericanMother]

Seriously, though, may the Gypsies and Gorgio, through the intercession of Blessed Ceferino Gimenez, come to an understanding, and peace.

[Revolting cat!]

I hope the Pope still has his ring.

It's already on e-Bay!

[21twelve]

My son studies Latin, and is going to Rome in a few weeks. Tough 16-year kid that he is he isn’t afraid of the pickpockets and so far has not heeded anyone’s warnings. May have to show him this thread! (P.S. - I hope that the Gypsies are gone by then!)

[AnAmericanMother]

You tell him to put his passport and cash into one of these:

neck pouch

They also make them with wire so the neck cord can't be cut - coversafe - the 75 neck pouch is downscreen a bit.

My son the U.S. Marine has one, so it is perfectly o.k. to carry one and still be tough! You can tell him it's "concealed carry", maybe that will interest him.

[vladimir998]

Blessed Ceferino Gimenez Malla. Now, there was a great Christian man.

[OpusatFR]

Tell him to watch it.

My sister who visits Rome every year put her handbag behind her back as she sat in a pew at one of the basilicas. She leaned forward and it was gone before she was even aware of it. She never sensed any movement.

Moral of the story: make a copy of your passport.

[NYer]

I hope that the Gypsies are gone by then!

Lol ... they have been there since I began visiting Italy ... uhhhh ... 40 years ago. Equip him with a money belt and instruct him to ignore children pulling on his jacket, et al. For someone of faith, it is not easy. Should he feel compelled to do so, out of love for our Lord's children, he can certainly toss a few coins in their laps. They won't harm him. They use begging as a means of accruing money. Many, as this article points out, are devout Catholics.

[SharpRightTurn]

“Two thousand Gypsies in audience with the Pope”

Tell him to keep an eye on his watch.

[21twelve]

No - I know there are many gypsies in Rome - just don’t need the gypsy convention in town! He has heard all the stories (hidden scissors, mobs, diversions, etc.). I’ll mention having a few spare coins in his pockets to give to the little ones.

[Cronos]

I noticed Gypsies when I came to Eastern Europe and then when I visited India and now again in Poland.

My observation is that they are the same from India to Europe, looks, culture etc.

Many are culturally of beggars or petty thieves as they have been literally for centuries, maybe even millenia

HOWEVER, one major, major thing that i appreciate about them is they do not use violence for their crimes. They may pick your pockets or rob small items, but they don't burgle your houses of everything and they do not use a knife to stab you.

In Rome, your son needs to be aware of his surroundings, some simple tips are:

1. Walk on the sunny side
2. Keep your wallet in your front pocket
3. Keep your cards separate from your wallet -- ditto for passports etc.
4. please STAY AWAY from fanny packs --they invite trouble and are easy to pick
5. be very, VERY aware of Italians (yes, not Gypsies) who stop you on the street to ask you directions when you are obviously a tourist (camera/maps) -- these are con-men
6. don't shake hands with strangers if you wear a ring or a fancy watch
7. Don't put your hand into the stranger's car to show him the way -- he could grab it, take your watch and drive off

[Cronos]

Yes, it is difficult. However I helped out in India's slums oh, nearly a decade ago -- and there you see real beggars.

There is quite a difference between gypsies, beggars and those used as beggars. The gypsies do it as part of their culture, the beggars have no alternative and are ashamed, but the worst are those compelled. There are actual gangs in india that main kids and put them on street corners to beg -- you feel terrible, but if you give them money, that means more kids will endure that gristly fate

[Cronos]

And never, never forget pojramos. imho, this was as bad or worse than the holocaust.