Pontiff laments tragic death of 4 Gypsy children

(February 14, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday appealed for a more just and supportive society recalling the death of four Gypsy children, who were killed on the outskirts of Rome on Feb. 6 when their illegal makeshift shelter burned to the ground. The Pope made the appeal during his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with a large crowd gathered below his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Among them were the parents of the deceased children. Many of the Gypsies, also known as Roma, are Italian citizens. The 3 boys and a girl age between 4 and 11 died in the fire when their mother was out looking for food. "Charity is the fulfilment of the law," the Pontiff said quoting St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. "In the face of this demand, for example, the pitiful case of the four Roma children who died last week in their blazing shack on the outskirts of this city, demands of us whether a more supportive and fraternal society coherent in love, in other words, more Christian, could have avoided such a tragic event,” the Pope asked. “This question,” he said, “can be applied to many other painful events, noteworthy or not, that take place daily in our cities and countries.” The Holy Father referred to the burnt Gipsy children in the context of a reflection on Sunday’s Gospel where Christ says he came not to abolish the law but to perfect it. He stated: "The newness of Christ essentially consists in the fact that he 'fulfils' the commandments with the love of God, with the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in him. And we, through faith in Christ, can open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit, who makes us capable of living divine love. "Thus, every precept becomes true as a demand of love, and they all are summed up in a single commandment: Love God with your whole heart and love your neighbour as yourself."