Pope Francis urges Slovakia's Roma to integrate for a better future

Pope Francis on Tuesday spent third day of his apostolic visit in East of Slovakia. Pope Francis met Roma in a gesture of inclusion for socially excluded mirity group suffering discrimination, marginalisation and poverty, according to Associated Press. Lunik IX settlement in eastern city of Kosice, which Pope visited, is home to country’s Roma residents.

Pope Francis meets Roma

Pope Francis on Tuesday urged Slovakia’s Roma to integrate better into mainstream. Francis said that Slovakia’s Roma h been subject to "prejudice and harsh judgments, discriminatory stereos, defamatory words and gestures"  and misunderstandings on part of Catholic Church, according to AP. Francis urged residents to overcome ir own prejudices, obstacles and mistrust of Slovaks for future generations. He urged m to integrate so that ir children can have a brighter future. 

Pointing out to children, Pope told crowd, "ir great dreams must t collide with barriers that we have erected. y deserve a well-integrated and free life". He asserted that decisions need to be taken in order to promote, educate children and give m opportunity y desire. Francis visit to Lunik IX settlement in eastern city of Kosice brought in Slovak police and soldiers. cops were fencing along main route into neighbourhood. Pope Francis is on a four-day visit to Slovakia and Hungary, in a first major outing after his intestinal surgery in July.

According to Associated Press, Roma has long suffered racism and discrimination in Slovakia and y continue to face hurdles in employment and education. Some Slovaks blame Roma for crime and Roma distrusting state institutions. Reportedly, during Pope Francis visit, more security presence was witnessed than at any of Francis or stops so that Slovaks could keep Lunik residents behind fence. 

Im: AP

Inputs from AP