"Deep dismay" for the assassination of the founder of the Ecumenical Community of Taizé, frère Roger Schütz. This is expressed by cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German Bishops Conference in a release issued today on behalf of the German bishops. The German Bishops Conference, reads the release, "severely condemns this unaccountable gesture. A man who devoted his life to announcing peace and reconciliation among all men, in particular among the churches, the confessions and the religions, has suffered a fate that recalls that of Jesus and other witnesses of a peaceful life, such as Martin Luther King and Dag Hammerskjöld. His life has been savagely broken. At such a deeply tragic time, we sympathise with the Community of Taizé. We express to our brothers our deep-felt sympathy and ensure them we will pray for Roger Schütz. I am sure the people taking part in the WYD will pray at all celebrations for our great friend and the forerunner of spiritual ecumenism. His violent death gives even more prominence to the message of his life and work".
