Pope Benedict XVI welcomed over 2,000 gypsies to the Vatican June 11.
They are converging on Rome this weekend to mark the 150th anniversary
of the birth of Bl. Zefirino Giménez Malla.
Known as “El Pelé,”
Bl. Zefirino was a gypsy who gave his life to defend a priest during the
Spanish Civil War. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of that
martyrdom.
“Blessed Zefirino invites you to follow his example
and shows you the way: the dedication to prayer and the Rosary in
particular, love for the Eucharist and the other sacraments, the
observance of the commandments, honesty, charity and generosity toward
others, especially the poor, and this will make you strong,” the Pope
told the pilgrims.
The delegation was drawn from 20 European
countries and included seven different gypsy communities: the Roma, the
Sinti, the Manouches, Kalé, Zingari, Yenish, Romanichals and Travellers.
During the audience several of the pilgrims told Pope Benedict
of the persecution that gypsies had faced throughout the 20th century.
This included the testimony of Austrian-born Ceija Stojka.
She recalled
how only six of her 200-strong family survived Nazi persecution during
the Second World War.
She herself, at only age nine, was deported to the
Nazi camps at Auschwitz, then Ravensbrück and then to Bergen-Belsen.
“The European consciousness cannot forget all the pain!” the Pope said in response.
“Never
again will your people be subjected to harassment, rejection and
contempt! For your part, always seek justice, the rule of law,
reconciliation and try to never be the cause of another’s suffering!”
One
of the key organizers of today’s event has been the Pontifical Council
for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
Its president,
Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò, says the Church is keen to remind
society of its responsibility towards gypsies – and vice versa.
“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,” he told Vatican Radio before
the audience.
“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.”
He also noted the apostolic fruits that are emerging from this approach.
“For
example, a few months ago the Holy Father nominated the first gypsy
Bishop in India, and there are two vicars general, 25 priests and 30
religious nuns.”
The Pope also noted this reality.
Pope Benedict
exhorted: “Trust and listen to these your brothers and sisters, and
together they offer a consistent and joyful proclamation of God's love
for the Gypsy people, like all people!”