Marking the 75th anniversary of the Community of Taizé, which will be observed tomorrow, August 20, during the same year that would have marked the centenary of the birth of Brother Roger Schutz, who founded the Community and the tenth anniversary of his death, Pope Francis has sent a message to Brother Aloïs and to the entire Community of Taizé.
During this year when the Community of Taizé is celebrating three anniversaries, the seventy-fifth of her foundation, the hundredth of the birth of Brother Roger and the tenth of his death, I unite myself with you in giving thanks to God, He who always calls forward new witnesses who are faithful to the end. I have confided to my venerable brother, Cardinal Kurt Koch, the task of transmitting to you and to all the members of your Community, the assurance of my affection for you.
As Pope Benedict XVI said to young people, on the occasion of the European meeting organized by the Community of Taizé in Rome in 2012, Brother Roger was a tireless witness of the gospel of peace and of reconciliation, motivated by the fire of ecumenism and holiness (Speech, 29 December 2012).
It is this fire that motivated him to establish a community that would be considered as a veritable parable of communion which, up until now, has played an important role in building bridges of friendship between Christians.
Searching passionately for unity within the Church, the Body of Christ, Brother Roger opened himself to the treasures of various Christian traditions, without breaking any connection with his original protestant roots. Through the perseverance which he demonstrated throughout his long life, he helped to change the relationships among Christians who are still separated from one another, marking out a road of reconciliation for many of them.
Nourished by Sacred Scripture, Brother Roger also referred to the teaching of the holy Fathers of the Church; drawing from the Christian sources, he was able to communicate their truths to the young.
Brother Roger understood the new generations; he had confidence in them. He made Taizé a place of meeting where young people from all parts of the world could feel respected and accompanied in their spiritual quest.
Brother Roger loved the poor, the disadvantaged, those who appear not to matter. He demonstrated, by his existence and by the presence of his brothers, that prayer goes hand in hand with human solidarity.
I give thanks to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the life of Brother Roger, including his violent death. May the Community of Taizé always maintain the ardent witness he gave to the risen Christ and the call which he untiringly repeated to choose to love.
From the Vatican
16 August 2015
Francis
Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
to Brother Aloïs
and the Community of Taizé
During this year when the Community of Taizé is celebrating three anniversaries, the seventy-fifth of her foundation, the hundredth of the birth of Brother Roger and the tenth of his death, I unite myself with you in giving thanks to God, He who always calls forward new witnesses who are faithful to the end. I have confided to my venerable brother, Cardinal Kurt Koch, the task of transmitting to you and to all the members of your Community, the assurance of my affection for you.
As Pope Benedict XVI said to young people, on the occasion of the European meeting organized by the Community of Taizé in Rome in 2012, Brother Roger was a tireless witness of the gospel of peace and of reconciliation, motivated by the fire of ecumenism and holiness (Speech, 29 December 2012).
It is this fire that motivated him to establish a community that would be considered as a veritable parable of communion which, up until now, has played an important role in building bridges of friendship between Christians.
Searching passionately for unity within the Church, the Body of Christ, Brother Roger opened himself to the treasures of various Christian traditions, without breaking any connection with his original protestant roots. Through the perseverance which he demonstrated throughout his long life, he helped to change the relationships among Christians who are still separated from one another, marking out a road of reconciliation for many of them.
Nourished by Sacred Scripture, Brother Roger also referred to the teaching of the holy Fathers of the Church; drawing from the Christian sources, he was able to communicate their truths to the young.
Brother Roger understood the new generations; he had confidence in them. He made Taizé a place of meeting where young people from all parts of the world could feel respected and accompanied in their spiritual quest.
Brother Roger loved the poor, the disadvantaged, those who appear not to matter. He demonstrated, by his existence and by the presence of his brothers, that prayer goes hand in hand with human solidarity.
I give thanks to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the life of Brother Roger, including his violent death. May the Community of Taizé always maintain the ardent witness he gave to the risen Christ and the call which he untiringly repeated to choose to love.
From the Vatican
16 August 2015
Francis
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