brief
Some Taizé brothers and an international team of young people have been in Budapest since mid September to prepare for the “pilgrimage of faith on earth” which, from 28 December 2001 to 1st January 2002, will bring together several tens of thousands of youngsters (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants) from all over Europe and the world. This meeting “sign of peace and reconciliation” – wishes to encourage young people to go to the sources of their faith. “ 2 sq m of floorspace is enough to provide a welcome“: that’s the slogan launched by the organizers to encourage as great a number of people as possible, especially families, to open their doors to the youngsters. During the December meeting they will spend the mornings in the parishes and the rest of the day at Hungexpo, a huge exhibition complex which will be specially transformed for the occasion into a place of prayer and meeting. After Barcelona, which hosted the meeting in 2000, the European meeting in Budapest is the 24th to be held by the Taizé community. In 1991, a previous meeting in the Hungarian capital attracted some 70,000 youngsters. The Taizé ecumenical community was founded by frère Roger in 1940. It comprises Catholic brothers of different origin from over 25 countries. Since 1962, some Taizé brothers travelled with great discretion in the countries of eastern and central Europe, including Hungary, to support the Christian communities there. (For further information tel. 0033-385-50.30.30 or www.taize.fr).
