“By dedicating himself to the peaceful co-existence of all mankind, frère Roger is the very image of the living practice of ecumenism and an inspiring example for us all”, declare the Swiss bishops in a message of good wishes to frère Roger, founder of the ecumenical community of Taizé, on his 90th birthday on 12 May. “In the community he founded at Taizé says the message Frère Roger tries to realise the Christian ideal of reconciliation and to enact ecumenical collaboration”. The bishops recall the dedication of frère Roger to the young and the meetings promoted by the Community of Taizé that bring together thousands of young Christians in a different European capital on New Year’s Day each year, thus promoting “a dialogue with youth as did out Holy Father John Paul II”. Born in Switzerland on 12 May 1915, frère Roger left the country at the age of 25 in 1940 to settle in France, at Taizè. Son of a Protestant pastor, he studied theology at Lausanne and then founded a community of Christian and ecumenical life, which has as its objective “living the Christian ideal of reconciliation”. During the Second World War, frère Roger welcomed into his house refugees, especially Jews, fleeing from the Gestapo. Today the community is formed of about a hundred brothers, Catholics and Protestants of various origins, from over 25 nations. John Paul II visited visited Taizè on 5 October 1986. This is his memory: “One passes by Taizé as one pass by a well. The traveller stops, quenches his thirst and continues his way”.
