” “The World Rom Day that will be celebrated tomorrow, April 8th, in memory of the first world Rom meeting that took place near London in 1971, "is an opportunity to recall a widespread attitude that considers this people a problem and not people with the same rights and duties who deserve respect": this was said to Sir by mgr. Piero Gabella, president of the International Gipsy Catholic Committee and director of the Office for the Pastoral of the Rom and Sinti of Fondazione Migrantes of the Cei (Italian Bishops Conference). According to father Gabella, "the principles of respect and justice that have been recalled on several occasions by the Church are eclipsed, and preconceived and sometimes even racist positions are often taken against this people". When speaking of Rom and Sinti, "also at a political level states mgr. Gabella -, they always try to contain the phenomenon and never to find solutions that may also give a role to this people that has always been discriminated against". The Comunità di Sant’Egidio, founded in Rome with branches in different European countries and in the rest of the world, mentions that "the gipsy people is the only people who has never declared war to anyone, but has suffered and still suffers persecution and prejudice", to the extent that approximately 500,000 gipsies were exterminated in the Nazi concentration camps and by their allies. The Comunità di Sant’Egidio therefore asks "to take care of the most discriminated people in Europe". About 9 million Rom and Sinti are estimated to live in Europe.
