Pope to meet gypsies of Europe

(June 10, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI will welcome groups of European gypsies to the Vatican on Saturday, pledging the Church’s closeness with them at a time when they face growing discrimination. The delegation, which will include members of the Roma, Sinti, Manouches, Kale, Yenish and Travellers communities from 20 European countries, is taking part in a pilgrimage to Rome to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of their patron, Blessed Ceferino Gimenez. A gypsy martyr of Spanish origin, Bl. Gimenez lived from 1861 to 1936 and was beatified by Bl. Pope John Paul II in 1997. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of his martyrdom. The Sant’Egidio lay community, which has helped organize the meeting, has described Saturday’s pilgrimage and audience as a “significant event”, showing the Church “loves gypsies and recognizes them as a minority in Europe, with their rights and their duties.” The event is also being organized by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People and the Italian Church.
Although this is the first time the Roma and Sinti communities have had an audience with a pope, previous popes have met members of the gypsy communities: Paul VI had audiences with them in 1965 and 1975; John Paul II met various delegations when he presided over Bl. Gimenez’s beatification, and he did so again during the Jubilee Year of 2000, during which he asked for the Lord’s forgiveness for sins committed against gypsies by the Church.