Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

People on the Move

N° 105, December 2007

VATICAN RADIO INTERVIEW

with Archbishop Agostino Marchetto

on the First World Meeting of Gypsy Priests, Deacons and Religious Men and Women

 Â“With Christ at the Service of the Gypsy People” is the theme of the First World Meeting of Gypsy Priests, Deacons and Religious, which will be held at the Casa Maria Immacolata, managed by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Rome, on Sunday 23 and Monday 24 September 2007. This meeting has been promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

The idea for organising a meeting of consecrated Gypsies stems from the Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of Gypsies, published by the above-mentioned Pontifical Council on 8 December 2005. Among other things, this document proposes that Gypsies be trained to carry out pastoral duties amongst their own people and calls for vocational pastoral ministry in order to facilitate a genuine implantatio ecclesiae in this environment. More than 40 consecrated people from 10 European countries, as well as from Brazil and India, are expected to attend.   

1) Your Excellency, could you first of all give us an overview of Gypsies today?

R. There are 36 million Gypsies, spread across Europe, in North and South America and in certain Asian countries. Around 18 million are thought to live in India, from where these people originally come. In Europe, official estimates by the Council of Europe put their numbers at between nine and twelve million with a substantial concentration in Eastern Europe. Almost one million Gypsies also live in the United States. The Gypsy population consists of various ethnic groups, of which the most well known are the Rom, Sinti, Manousche, Kalé, Yéniches and Xoraxané.

We believe that there are around 100 consecrated Gypsies. A considerable number – around 20 priests – come from India, followed by Hungary with around 10 presbyters, and then Slovakia and Spain. So far, France is the only country whose National Director for the Pastoral Care of Gypsies is a presbyter, assisted by another priest, three permanent deacons, two nuns and a consecrated laywoman, all of whom are Gypsies.  

2)  How do these vocations come about?

R. They arise in just the same way as in other environments, thanks to the witness and mercy of God and to all the initiatives offered to Gypsies, especially youngsters, with the opportunity for an ongoing personal encounter with priests and religious, who are actively involved in the life of the Church. Examples include the Salesian Missions in Slovakia and the faith schools in France as well as prayer meetings and pilgrimages which involve whole families. Obviously, the family is still the first and most important place that gives rise to these vocations, where the voice of God who calls is heard, especially if it is a devout environment, open to pastoral workers. In Italy, there is a group of people who have been holding prayer meetings every Thursday for over 30 years to beseech the gift of new vocations among Gypsies.

Given that wandering is a basic characteristic of their cultural identity, some people may be surprised that there are vocations among Gypsies for the contemplative and secluded life. Indeed, we have a Carmelite nun in Spain and a Benedictine nun in Italy, both of whom are Gypsies. 

3) Which specific problems are faced by consecrated Gypsies in providing pastoral care to their brothers and sisters?

 R. They can be summarised as follows: marginalisation; the precarious state of their so-called “travellers’ camps”; schooling problems for children, resulting in high illiteracy rates (ranging from 50 to 100% according to region); negative prejudices and stereotypes that take racist forms; and the difficulties that Gypsies have in accessing employment, vocational training and healthcare. These problems are compounded by a feeling of inferiority, self-marginalisation, mistrust and detachment from the surrounding society. All of these elements obviously affect Gypsy vocations. Therefore, some priests and religious, for example, may wish to conceal their Gypsy origins due to fear of being discriminated against.  Although, a large number of their families consider their children’s vocations to be a gift and a real asset, a concern that they might lose their ethnic identity can set them against such a life choice for their offspring. 

4) What are you proposing with this Meeting?

R. For many years, the Church has been urging Gypsy Catholics to be apostles and to play a leading role in their own pastoral care. Accordingly, we wish to support them in their vocation and encourage them to take their rightful place in the evangelisation and human promotion of their Gypsy brothers and sisters. Moreover, we wish to hear their comments and suggestions on how to create and open up spaces in the Church for authentic communion and solidarity with Gypsies, and how to specifically foster justice, mutual trust and the elimination of all kinds of discrimination and racism.