The sources of trust” “

“When the young, in their life, make a choice in favour of peace, they bring a hope that sheds light far, and ever further”: so declares Frère Roger , founder of the ecumenical community of Taizé, in his “Letter 2003” which will be meditated on by the young during the new year. The text of the letter – translated into 58 languages (of which 23 Asian) – was released a few days before the beginning of the 25th European meeting of Taizé which will be held in Paris this year, from 28 December to 1st January. Some 80,000 youngsters from all over Europe are expected in the French capital (last year the meeting was held in Budapest); they’ll be accommodated in more than a hundred parishes in the Ile-de-France. Going to the sources of trust, promoting it among peoples and cultures, becoming witnesses of hope and peacemakers today and tomorrow: these are some of the themes at the centre of the Parisian meeting. “God cannot but love”. An appeal to open “ways of pacification wherever conflict reigns”, in the certainty that “God cannot but love” the world and console the suffering, is made in the message that Frère Roger has addressed this year to youth throughout the world, in preparation for his meeting with them in Paris at the end of the year. “Peace on earth – writes the founder of Taizé – is prepared in proportion as each of us dares to ask how he/she can become a “ferment of trust” wherever he/she lives. Frère Roger encourages the young generations never to lose hope. “Among the young generations throughout the world – he writes – so many are asking themselves: does there exist any hope for our future? How can I pass from anxiety to trust? Our societies are sometimes in such turmoil. With poverty in constant growth, the future of humanity is uncertain. There’s the suffering of so many children, there are so many broken homes, broken hearts. However, do we not see signs of undeniable hope arising, even among the most troubled situations in the world?”. This hope – says Frère Roger – is born from the certainty that “God cannot but love”. “Today – explains the founder of Taizé – it’s more than ever important to remember that suffering never comes from God. God is not the author of evil; he wants neither human despair, nor the disorders of nature, nor the violence of accidents, nor wars. He shares the pain of those whose steadfastness is being tried, and gives us the boon of consoling the suffering”. The appeal of Christian leaders to the young. A strong appeal of the international Christian community to the young to become the agents of peace and reconciliation in the world: that’s what can be grasped from the numerous messages from church leaders received by the Taizé Community on the eve of the great meeting in Paris. “This meeting – says John Paul II – is a sign of hope for our world. It demonstrates that youth today has a hunger for truth, beauty and the absolute, and is trying to give a sense to its own life”. The young, adds the Holy Father, “will have their eyes open to see the new dawn rising, the hope in a future of justice and peace, love and reconciliation, gifts of God for our earth, for the development of which each must make his/her own contribution”. Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow has also sent a message, in which he recalls the importance of the young for peacemaking in the world. “You are called – writes the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church – to share the common responsibility with a view to reinforcing justice, concord and reciprocal respect”. From Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople comes, in turn, an appeal to pray for “peace throughout the world, a world once again in peril”, while the thoughts of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan go to those young people who have to live in situations of conflict and difficulty. “We must do everything to restore hope to them, and each of us has a part to play”. Maria Chiara Biagioni