Zefferino (Ceferino) Giménez Malla (1861-1936), known as ‘El Pelé’, was born of a Catholic gypsy family. He lived like a nomad for forty years and then settled in Barbastro (Spain). He married but had no children. Although he was illiterate, he taught the gypsy and non-gypsy children the first elements of Christianity, using the Bible above all, and he trained them to pray daily.”

–Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

Bl. Ceferino Giménez Malla knew how to sow peace and solidarity among his own, often mediating in the conflicts that relations between Gypsies and farmers sometimes involve, showing that Christ’s love is not limited by race or culture.”

–from the Homily of Pope John Paul II at the Eucharistic Celebration for the Beatification of Five New Blesseds, May 4, 1997.