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that they could stay in one of the halls of the complex until the situation was re-
solved, and the use of force by the police was thus avoided. however, the greatest
achievement of this unprecedented protest was the fact that these shantytown
residents had managed to briefly move into the limelight and dominate political
and media debate, becoming the focus of interest and mediation on the part of
the Vatican and Catholic welfare organizations, especially Caritas and the Co-
munità di sant'egidio, as well as various italian government ministries. During
the following two days of tension and negotiation, the Roma were housed within
the basilica; after the first hours of elation, though, their resentment grew as they
found themselves cut off from any contact with the outside, unable to dialogue
with the NGos that had supported their protest, and, especially, isolated from
family and friends. The initial sense of protection that the church afforded the
Roma soon faded, especially as the need to clear the building for the easter ser-
vices intensified and even members of some Catholic organizations began to put
pressure on them to accept the city government's proposal and leave.
from the morning of easter saturday, television crews from around the
world converged on the gardens as the protests gained coverage beyond italy, at-
tracting attention especially in other Catholic countries and in eastern europe.
The outside of the church also became a place of anxiety and hope for those Roma
who had left the basilica to buy milk, sandwiches, and cigarettes and were now
shut out from events developing inside which concerned them directly. as the
interviews, attempts to gain up-to-date news, and improvised football match-
es continued outside, the issue of the Roma's separation from the rest of their
families became ever more tense and, by evening, various police vehicles began
to circle the area, causing many to leave in fear. NGos became more vocal in
their lobbying of the basilica's administrators, also drawing into their protests
many faithful attending saturday evening services. The police eventually raided
the gardens, destroying the tents that Roma and
gağé
(non-Roma) had put up
symbolically.
on the political level, an opaque process of negotiation—from which the
Roma themselves were excluded—was underway. The pope publicly expressed
his solidarity with the Roma inside the basilica and his declaration was soon
followed by criticisms of the city government by high-ranking members of the
Vatican. Representatives of the national government, including the interior min-
istry, also became involved. Despite the attention of the highest levels of church
and state institutions, nothing changed in practice and much of easter sunday
passed without any decision being reached. at last, an unexpected solution was
announced in the late afternoon: The Roma would be given accommodation in a
hostel run by the Catholic organization, Caritas, in the city's eastern periphery.
This would ensure that the families could stay together and would allow those
that had been divided in recent days to be reunited. initial declarations to the me-
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