(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Péter Erdo, President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Anglican Bishop Christopher Hill, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) have released a joint message marking International Roma Day (8 April 2015)
Please find below the full text of the message in English:
Every human being is created in the image of God, whatever their language and culture may be. This conviction is shared by Christians and churches. Jesus Christ has called us to proclaim the good news to everyone, but especially to the poor and marginalised. We appeal to our communities to become more and more open toward the Roma people, who are often excluded and live in poverty at the margins of society.
Despite hardships throughout their history, Roma minorities have maintained a rich culture that includes values such as family life, love of children, faith in God, respect toward the dead, and enjoyment of music and dance. We regard this culture as a gift of the Creator, deserving respect and support.
The present situation of too many Roma people throughout Europe is deplorable. Major problems include racism against the Roma in speech and action across Europe, high unemployment, lack of professional training and, consequently, utter poverty.
At the same time some positive trends can be observed in European societies. More Roma youth study in high schools and universities. Awareness about and sensitivity towards the Roma population is growing.
Christian churches, priests, pastors and lay people have tried to help their Roma brothers and sisters in many ways for centuries. Our conviction is, that beside education and employment, the human heart is a third and important pillar in the development of relations with Roma people.
Our churches in many places help Roma communities improve their social integration—not to be misunderstood as assimilation—while preserving Roma culture. We do this with after-school teaching, medical services, food, juridical and other counselling, and so on. We summon our communities to stand by these initiatives, to become real brothers and sisters to the needy.
To move forward in justice is to work for reconciliation with this past. We must build new just relationships with Roma people and commit ourselves to the difficult and worthy task of healing and reconciliation.
Jesus told the scribes at the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan: ‘Go, and do the same thing!’ Let us take up this Gospel challenge and become true brothers and sisters of the poor!
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Péter Erdo, President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Anglican Bishop Christopher Hill, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) have released a joint message marking International Roma Day (8 April 2015) Please find below the full text of the message in English: Every human being is…
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A vigil in a tent in
Arbil and Easter Mass in Sulaymaniyah
were the last events during Cardinal Fernando Filoni’s visit to Iraq.
The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples wrapped up
his visit in Iraq, where he brought Pope Francis’ solidarity to the local
people, especially the displaced people of Mossul and of the Plain of Nineveh. “It was a real pilgrimage”, he said, “among persecuted
Christians; a pilgrimage which was a real spiritual gift for me”. The Cardinal
celebrated Easter Mass on Sunday in Sulaymaniyah where he encouraged the more
than 400 families who have found refuge there. Even more troubling was the situation in the large camp
of Arbil, where Cardinal Filoni concelebrated the Easter vigil with the
Patrirach for Babylon for Chaldeans, Louis Raphaël Sako, and Archbishop Bashar Warda of Arbil for
Chaldeans, in an enormous tent in the 109 th quarter of the capital
of Kurdistan. More than 5,000 Christians, most of whom are refugees in the
camp, participated in the ceremony. After Patriarch Sako’s homily, Cardinal Filoni addressed
a greeting in Italian which was translated into Arabic. The Cardinal also
visited the building where unfortunately the conditions are less than perfect.
The authorities of the autonomous government, however, have assured the Prefect
of Propaganda Fide that the refugees will soon be transferred to a centre with
improved living facilities. …