COOPERATORES
VERITATIS
TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TAIZE: BE BEARERS OF THE MESSAGE OF UNITY
Benedict XVI arrives for a Taize prayer meeting with young people in St Peter Square at the Vatican on the 29th December
Vatican City, 29
December 2012 (VIS) - This afternoon before more than 30,000 people gathered in St. Peter's
Square, Benedict XVI prayed with the participants in the 35th European meeting
of young people of the Taize Community. Many local families hosted those who
had made the pilgrimage to Rome for this occasion. The prayer followed the
approach typical of the Taize Community. Following an address by Br. Alois,
Prior of the Taize Community, the Holy Father spoke to the young people present
in several languages.
Taize attracts thousands of young people every year
"You have come in large numbers
from all over Europe and also from other continents to pray at the tombs of
Saints Peter and Paul", the Pope said. "The faith that motivated
these two great Apostles of Jesus is the same faith that has inspired your
pilgrimage. During the year that is about to begin, you propose to free the
wellsprings of trust in God in order to live it in your daily lives. I am
pleased that in this way you have embraced the intentions of the Year of Faith,
which began in October".
In English, Benedict XVI recalled that
"just over seventy years ago, Brother Roger established the Taize
Community. Thousands of young people from all over the world continue to go
there to seek meaning for their lives". It was precisely to support them
"on their journey to Christ" that Brother Roger established this
"pilgrimage of trust on earth".
"A tireless witness to the Gospel
of peace and reconciliation, ardently committed to an ecumenism of holiness,
Brother Roger encouraged all those who passed through Taize to become seekers
of communion. We should listen in our hearts to his spiritually lived
ecumenism, and let ourselves be guided by his witness towards an ecumenism
which is truly interiorised and spiritualised. Following his example, may all
of you be bearers of this message of unity. I assure you of the irrevocable
commitment of the Catholic Church to continue seeking the paths of
reconciliation leading to the visible unity of Christians. And so this evening
I greet with special affection those among you who are Orthodox or
Protestants".
In French, the Pope continued:
"Christ now poses to you the question He addressed to His disciples: 'Who
do you say that I am?' ... and wishes to receive from each one of you an answer
that comes not from constraint or from fear, but from your profound freedom. It
is in responding to this question that your life finds its fullest meaning. ...
The Word of God, according to the Second Letter of Peter, is like 'a lamp
shining in a dark place', that you would do well to attend to 'until day dawns
and the morning star rises in your hearts'. You have understood this though: if
the morning star is to rise in your hearts this means that it is not always
there. At times evil and the suffering of the innocent give rise to doubt and confusion.
At these times, our 'yes' to Christ becomes difficult. But this doubt does not
make us unbelievers! Jesus did not abandoned the man in the Gospel who
exclaimed 'I believe; Help my unbelief!'".
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