(27/10/2015)
Pope Francis marks 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s meeting with Roma people
Pope Francis met with over 7000 Roma people to mark the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s meeting with Roma people in a camp near Rome. The Vatican said that the event was an occasion to inform the world about the history and qualities of the Roma people, a group who have often fallen victims to prejudice and hostility.
In his address, the Pope called on society to be inclusive of all people and that “no one is entitled to trample on the dignity and the rights of others.” He also said it was time to uproot “secular prejudice, preconceived ideas and the reciprocal diffidence that are often at the base of discrimination, racism and xenophobia.”
Soraya Post, Co-president of ARDI and Chair of ARDI’s Anti-Roma racism/Anti-Gypsyism Working Group, was present at the event and commented: “I commend the Pope for organising today’s event and for speaking out about the rights of Roma people. I hope political leaders listen to the Pope’s message about tackling racism and xenophobia and social exclusion.”