Christ is risen!

What a joy it is to welcome you during this time when we are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus together! You have come from Romania, Lithuania, Sweden, France and various parts of Germany to join us in Taizé for a week of prayer and sharing, an experience of human communion that is also an experience of the Church, this mystery of communion that is the Body of Christ.

And this week we are marked by the death of Pope Francis. I've received so many messages over the last few days giving thanks for his life, not only from Catholics, but also from Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican friends. I've also received messages from Muslim believers. This helps us to understand how much this Pope has contributed to opening up paths of communion between Christians and within the human family.

I can still see him on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on the evening of his election, on 13 March 2013, with his first words: ‘Good evening, pray for me’. And this ‘pray for me’ was repeated so many times throughout his ministry, as if to make us understand that he needed the support of each and every one of us.

From the very beginning of his pontificate, his calls to reach out to the most vulnerable, to welcome migrants and refugees, to listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, have spoken to us a great deal in Taizé. He gave value to those who thought they had none. And I know how much his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’, in which he spoke of ecology in a way that took all the different factors into account, appealed to many people, as did his attention to inter-religious dialogue, which enabled him to forge friendships beyond Christian circles.

And of course we can't forget his attention towards our community through personal contacts with my predecessor Brother Alois, who took part in several synods - including the last Synod on Synodality - as well as private audiences, and also during the preparations for the Together ecumenical vigil, where the images of the final blessing given together with the leaders of the different Churches left a deep impression on so many people.

During the vigil, Pope Francis said the following: “Truth does not need violent cries to reach people's hearts. God does not like proclamations and clamour, chatter and din: God prefers rather, as he did with Elijah, to speak in the ‘whisper of a gentle breeze’ (1 Kings 19:12), in a ‘fine, sonorous silence’. And so we too, like Abraham, like Elijah, like Mary, need to free ourselves from so much noise in order to hear his voice. For it is only in our silence that his Word resounds.”

In Taizé, I want you to discover the silence of which the Pope spoke. This kind of silence allows us to listen to what is in our depths, where the Spirit of God dwells, so that we can become what we are called to be by responding to the ‘Come and follow me’ that is Jesus' invitation to each and every one of us.

Remain as much as possible in this silence this week, whether that be before the prayer as you enter the church, during the common prayer or afterwards when the silence of our hearts deepens through the singing. Save the words for when you are outside the church. It's an effort, but it's possible and you'll see the fruits you'll reap!

I'll be leaving for Rome on Friday morning to take part in the Eucharist of thanksgiving for Pope Francis. Could I ask you to pray to the Holy Spirit over the next few days to inspire those responsible for choosing the new Bishop of Rome to be at the service of all the People of God and the human family?

Tomorrow will be a great day of celebration for us. During evening prayer, our brother Yohan from Indonesia will make his commitment for life as a brother of our community. He has been preparing for this moment for six years.

When he received the garment of prayer and began this preparation, our brother Yohan heard this prayer: “In the silence of your heart, Christ whispers, do not be afraid, I am here”. Throughout his journey, he has had to remember these words and trust in the presence of the Risen Christ at his side. His commitment is rooted in this fidelity of Christ, who is there for us all, whether we know it or not.

And for us brothers, when Brother Yohan answers “I do” to the questions I ask him during the profession, we are in a way saying it with him so that our own commitment is renewed.

One last word: we have with us this week leaders of the Global Christian Forum, an organisation that works for the unity of all those who love Christ. Through each member's account of his or her journey with Jesus, the Holy Spirit opens us up to a listening process that enables us to journey together and understand that we have already been given unity through our baptism. Thank you for being with us.

On Friday, I invite you all to come to church at 8 p.m. where, as every week, we will pray in silence for peace in our world. Last week, the presence of young people from Bethlehem reminded us of the suffering in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel today, just as young Ukrainians asked us not to forget their country devastated by war.

And finally: at the end of the year, from 28 December to 1 January, you are all expected in Paris and the Île-de-France region for the European meeting at the invitation of the Archbishop of Paris and the bishops of the province, as well as Protestant and Orthodox leaders. For the young French people among us, the journey will be short! This meeting will also be a sign of our desire for peace and fraternity in the human family, yes, for hope beyond all hope.