First World Meeting of Gypsy Priests, Deacons and Religious

(Sept 22, 2007) The First World Meeting of Gypsy priests, Deacons and Religious begins in Rome on Sunday. Over 40 priests, deacons and religious from 10 European countries as well as from Brazil and India are expected to come together for the Sept. 23- 24 meeting, organized by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, the secretary of the council told Vatican Radio that the 2-day meeting is meant to encourage gypsies to be apostles and play a leading role in their own pastoral care. He said the Church wishes to encourage them in the evangelization and human promotion of their own people, to foster justice and mutual trust and eliminate all kinds of discrimination and racism against them. According to Archbishop Marchetto there are some 36 million gypsies in Europe, the Americans and certain parts of Asia, of whom around 18 million are said to be in India which is said to be the original home of gypsies. There are around 100 consecrated gypsies worldwide, 20 of whom are from India.