Gypsies: brothers and sisters in the society of humankind
(April 16, 2011) Respect and appreciation for the gypsies should be followed up
by the genuine effort to integrate nomadic peoples into the mainstream of modern society,
said Bishop Antonio Maria Vegliò. President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for
the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. He was addressing a conference
commemorating the persecution of nomadic peoples under the Fascist and Nazi regimes.
The conference was sponsored by an Italian association known as Living Books Commitment,
in Grottaferrata outside Rome. Bishop Vegliò outlined the scope of his dicastery,
which is mainly the task of keeping track of people who for one reason or other have
wandered far from the familiar surroundings of their own land; prominent among these
were the gypsies. The integration of nomadic people into the culture of a concrete
society called for a change of mentality, both in the ecclesiastical and civil spheres.
The church not only welcomes such people but takes the first step towards people
who are different, rejected or not tolerated. The church was guided by the sense of
justice and solidarity inspired by the gospel. One of the potent instruments to combat
discrimination was education. And a host of young nomadic people were in need of schooling.
Archbishop Vegliò was happy to point out that in Europe alone there were at least
14 Salesian communities working in the frontline on behalf of these young gypsies.
Bishop Vegliò concluded with two golden rules that should guide all action on behalf
of gypsies: first of all one must know how to listen , that means take time to understand
each other better and the second rule teaches us to act on behalf of gypsies, but
always together with them, making them partners in the projects.