Pope Francis meets Brother Alois of Taizé

On Thursday 25 June, the Holy Father received the Prior of Taizé, Brother Alois, together with some members of the Community, in a private audience. During the meeting, Brother Alois shared with the Holy Father recent news from Taizé, in particular the "Pilgrimage of Trust on the Earth" and the recent resumption of activities at Taizé after the lockdown, including the work of safeguarding and welcoming refugees. Brother Alois also spoke of how the encyclical Laudato si’ has stimulated the work of the Community.

Prior to the current health emergency, the Community of Taizé had sponsored the 42nd European Meeting of Young People held in Wrocław, Poland, from 28 December 2019 to 1 January 2020, to which Pope Francis, as in other years, sent a message expressing his blessings and closeness in prayer.

On Friday 26 June Brother Alois, accompanied by the members of the Community, also met with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The Community of Taizé is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, from around thirty nations. It seeks to be a “parable of community”,  a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.

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