Paris-based William Bila, a Rom who was raised Catholic and sits on the board of directors of the Roma Education Fund, was dismayed. The Pope seemed to believe that the Roma community's low educational attainment is a choice. The EU and UN have criticized several European states for failing to end segregated schooling for Roma in the countries with the largest Roma communities, even many supposedly 'integrated' schools move Roma into separate classrooms. With these words, he showed a lack of research and awareness of the barriers that Roma face. Pope Francis admonished the Roma, saying 'your children have the right to go to school, do not prevent them from doing so!' More striking to community organizers and to those who work for the integration of Roma into society was the commentary on education. For Roma, being seen collectively in such a light is all too familiar. One does not win over an audience by calling the audience liars or thieves. The pontiff implored the audience to be good Christians, 'avoiding all that is not worthy of this name: lies, frauds, swindles, altercations.' However, many Roma found offense in parts of his speech, noting that the general message was mixed with stereotyping and a view that blames Roma for their own poverty and alienation. He said 'enough discrimination, let's work for real integration'.' 'He does not want discrimination against the Roma. Romani-Italian activist and musician, Santino Spinelli, who had the honour of performing for the Pope, was pleased with the event. 'No one must feel isolated.no one is entitled to trample on the dignity and the rights of others.' He took this stand: 'The time has come to uproot secular prejudice, preconceived ideas and the reciprocal diffidence that are often at the base of discrimination, racism and xenophobia,' he said.

In the context of recent action to remove immigrant Roma from bidonvilles, or shanty towns, in France, as well as the 64 forced evictions in Rome and other parts of the EU, combined with the rise in right-wing, anti-gypsy statements by politicians, many members of Europe's largest and arguably most marginalized ethnic minority group were eager to see Pope Francis take a stand against ethnic bias. On Monday, Pope Francis spoke to an audience of 7,000 people from the Roma and Sinti communities, who gathered in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican to hear his blessing, which marked the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul IV's meeting with Roma people in an informal settlement near Rome.

Gypsy Movements by Jud Nirenberg