Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03VATICAN2996
2003-07-01 15:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN SPOTLIGHT ON ROMA

Tags:  PHUM PREL VT 
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UNCLAS VATICAN 002996 

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI) AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN SPOTLIGHT ON ROMA


UNCLAS VATICAN 002996

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI) AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN SPOTLIGHT ON ROMA



1. SUMMARY: THE VATICAN'S FIFTH WORLD CONGRESS OF THE
PASTORAL CARE OF GYPSIES WILL TAKE PLACE IN BUDAPEST,
HUNGARY FROM JUNE 30 TO JULY 6. THE CONGRESS WILL FOCUS ON

THE PASTORAL NEEDS OF THE ROMA, BUT WILL ALSO INCLUDE
LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS ON EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, INTEGRATION,
AND THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN THE FORMATION OF A CULTURE OF
SOLIDARITY AND TOLERANCE. NATIONAL CATHOLIC CHURCH
DIRECTORS FOR ROMA ISSUES WILL ALSO PREPARE A DOCUMENT AT
THE CONGRESS ADDRESSING GLOBAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE THE CARE
OF ROMA. THE CONGRESS IS BEING HELD OUTSIDE OF THE VATICAN
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A SHOW OF RECOGNITION FOR THE EFFORTS
OF THE HUNGARIAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE AND HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT
TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION OF ROMA. END SUMMARY.


2. SECRETARY OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL
CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLES, ARCHBISHOP AGOSTINO
MARCHETTO TOLD POLOFF AND POL ASSISTANT JUNE 26 THAT THE
VATICAN'S FIFTH WORLD CONGRESS OF THE PASTORAL CARE OF
GYPSIES WILL BRING TOGETHER 150 REPRESENTATIVES FROM 25
EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES WORLDWIDE. MOST PARTICIPANTS, WHO
WILL FOCUS ON THE PASTORAL CARE OF GYPSIES, REPRESENT
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, BUT THE U.S., INDIA, MEXICO, AND BRAZIL
-- ALL OF WHICH HAVE SIGNIFICANT ROMA POPULATIONS -- WILL
ALSO BE REPRESENTED. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE NATIONAL
DIRECTORS FOR ROMA ISSUES, PRIESTS, MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS,
LAY PASTORAL AGENTS, AND ROMA. AMONG THE ROMA, THERE ARE 15
CATHOLIC PRIESTS, NUNS, AND STUDENTS, WHO WILL PARTICIPATE
IN AN EDUCATION ROUND TABLE.


3. WHILE THE CONGRESS WILL REVIEW BROADER ISSUES RELATING
TO INTEGRATION OF ROMA, MARCHETTO NOTED THAT THESE ISSUES
WOULD BE EXAMINED PRIMARILY IN THE CONTEXT OF PASTORAL CARE
FOR THE ROMA. NEVERTHELESS, MARCHETTO EMPHASIZED THAT THE
HOLY SEE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF THE DIGNITY OF
THE ROMA AND THEIR TREATMENT IN SOCIETY. HE POINTED OUT
THAT THE VATICAN FREQUENTLY ADVOCATES ON THEIR BEHALF TO
LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS. IN THIS REGARD, HE ALSO
OBSERVED THAT THE HOLY SEE'S INTEREST ENGAGED A NUMBER OF
VATICAN COUNCILS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL `COR
UNUM' WHICH COORDINATES VATICAN HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
WORLDWIDE HELPS PROVIDE FOR ROMA MATERIAL NEEDS, WHILE THE
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE EXAMINES GOVERNMENT
POLICIES AFFECTING ROMA. MARCHETTO ELABORATED THAT HIS OWN
COUNCIL FOR MIGRANTS HAD FOUR OFFICES DEALING WITH THE
PASTORAL NEEDS OF REFUGEES, MIGRANTS, AND OTHER NOMADS (I.E.
CIRCUS WORKERS, PILGRIMS, FISHERMEN),AND `PEOPLE OF THE
ROAD, INCLUDING RAILWAY AND AIRPORT WORKERS, SEAFARERS,
FOREIGN STUDENTS.


4. IN A DISCUSSION OF USG EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ROMA ISSUES,
MARCHETTO MADE A POINT TO URGE THE USG NOT TO GIVE HUMAN
RIGHTS SHORT-SHRIFT IN OUR FOCUS ON THE WAR ON TERRORISM.
WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR NEW SECURITY POLICIES,
MARCHETTO SAID HE HOPES THE PENDULUM WILL SWING BACK AND THE
U.S. WILL RETURN TO ITS HISTORIC "DESTINY" OF OFFERING
OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM TO THE WORLD'S REFUGEES, MIGRANT
WORKERS AND FOREIGN STUDENTS. HE URGED THE USG TO CONSIDER
SIGNING THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF
THE RIGHTS OF ALL MIGRANT WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR
FAMILIES. HE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT ONLY 21
COUNTRIES HAVE SIGNED ON AFTER THIRTEEN YEARS AND NO
INDUSTRIALIZED NATION IS YET A SIGNATORY.


5. COMMENT: DESPITE THE CONGRESS'S PRIMARY FOCUS ON
PASTORAL ISSUES, WE EXPECT THE CONGRESS TO DEVOTE
CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES SUCH AS EDUCATION,
INTEGRATION, AND THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN SHAPING
PERCEPTIONS OF ROMA. BEYOND THE VATICAN, MANY CATHOLIC-
AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE LAY CATHOLIC SANT'
EGIDIO COMMUNITY REMAIN ACTIVE IN ASSISTING THE ROMA
COMMUNITIES IN ITALY AND ELSEWHERE. OFTEN, HOWEVER, LOCAL
PARISHES TAKE LITTLE INTEREST IN ROMA ISSUES AND CAN
SOMETIMES BE HOSTILE. OUR SANT' EGIDIO CONTACTS RECENTLY
TOOK US TO COFFEE HOSTED BY A ROMA FAMILY FROM BOSNIA.
BETWEEN GUSTS OF WIND BLOWING THROUGH THE LARGE HOLES IN THE
WALLS OF THEIR SHACK THE FAMILY EXPLAINED THAT THEY RECEIVED
LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR LOCAL CHURCH OR THE ITALIAN
GOVERNMENT. OUR SANT' EGIDIO HOSTS EXPLAINED THAT THE LOCAL
PARISH PRIEST HAD LOBBIED THE GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE THE ROMA
ENCAMPMENT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE HOLY SEE TO
SHARE INFORMATION EMERGING FROM THE CONGRESS WIDELY WITHIN
BISHOP'S CONFERENCES, ND TO KEEP ROMA ISSUES AT THE
FOREFRONT OF THE VTICAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA.

NICHOLSON

NNNN

2003VATICA02996 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED