Taizé’s founder remembered with call to ecumenism

The Vatican’s top ecumenist praised France’s Taizé Community as a “youthful laboratory for inter-faith dialogue” on the tenth anniversary of the murder of its founder by a disturbed pilgrim, writes Jonathan Luxmoore.

“This place is marked by a deep spirituality, as well as by the immense scope of Brother Roger’s thought,” said Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. “We  rejoice that its community has provided a kind of laboratory, where young people can engage early on in this dialogue.” He was addressing representatives of Christian Churches and other faiths last Sunday during a Week of Solidarity and Remembrance commemorating the death of Roger Schutz (1915-2005) and the 75th anniversary of Taizé’s foundation.