During his successful but unheralded trip to Romania last weekend, Pope Francis offered an apology to the Romani people. Speaking in the central town of Blaj, the Pope told members of the community: “I ask forgiveness – in the name of the Church and of the Lord – and I ask forgiveness of you.”

According to the European Union, the Romani – commonly known as Roma or Gypsies – are Europe’s largest ethnic minority. This traditionally itinerant people, who probably originate from northern India, live mainly in central and southern Europe today, and are said to comprise up to 10 per cent of Romania’s 19.6 million population.