VATICAN (CNS): Peter Cardinal Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, brought medicine and supplies to a Roma community settlement as a sign of support for those who are often forgotten during the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.
On June 13, Cardinal Turkson first stopped in Tor Bella Monaca, a town southwest of Rome, to meet with volunteers to assist several communities of Roma, who are sometimes referred to as Gypsies.
He gave them thousands of gloves, surgical masks and fever-reducing medicine from the Vatican pharmacy, the dicastery said.
Carlo Stasolla, president of the July 21 charitable association, accompanied the cardinal. According to the dicastery, the association delivers 250-300 food packages to Roma families every week.
According to Vatican News, an estimated 600 people—half of whom are children—reside in the Castel Romano camp, living in campers or makeshift shacks. Water is delivered in a tanker and electricity is a scarce commodity for the residents.
Only about 15 per cent of the children go to school, so without reliable electricity and no Internet, their education ended when schools were closed because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Echoing Pope Francis’ affirmation that “no one must be left behind,” Cardinal Turkson said the visit to the camp was meant as a gesture of the pope’s closeness to marginalised communities.
The visit was among several initiatives promoted by the Vatican’s coronavirus commission, set up by the pope in mid-April, which is led by Cardinal Turkson.
