At the end of every yearPope Benedict XVI
Dear young people,
Through prayer, the Holy Father joins you who have come together in Poznan at the invitation of the Taizé Community, in the homeland of his great predecessor, John Paul II. He asks the Holy Spirit to give you more and more the desire for God and to deepen your trust in Him, so that you can head boldly toward the future and its many challenges.
The Pope trusts you to go and meet men and women who have lost the sense of God, who seek uncertainly for Him, sometimes without realizing it. They need to encounter true witnesses, so that the face of Christ may shine for them. May God inspire the actions and words that will make accessible to others, when you return home to your countries, the hope that gives you life and the vitality that the Spirit wants to give to every human life!
Yes, rejoice in the thirst that He himself has placed in you: it expresses your dignity as sons and daughters of God. During this 32nd European meeting in Poland, a new stage of your pilgrimage of trust on earth, you will discover the joy of drawing from the wellsprings of the Living God all together, the joy of fellowship in Christ. It is to this joy that His call destines you.
Entrusting you to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, mother of believers, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI grants you an affectionate apostolic blessing with all his heart, as well as to the brothers of Taizé, to everyone who helped organize the pilgrimage, to the pastors and believers who welcome you, and to your families.
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople
“Do not fear, for I bring you news of great joy which is for all the people: to you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
While the announcement of the angel to the shepherds still echoes through the hymns of the Church, the unfathomable mystery of the Incarnation continues until today. It reminds us of the central experience of the Christian faith, that human salvation comes through deification, the possibility for man to become God by grace.
“Do not fear!”
In a period of economic instability, where job insecurity is growing against the background of a pandemic, the world is troubled by a crisis whose ramifications extend into the depths of modern life. “Golden calves” are emerging, sacrificing justice, equality and freedom on the altar of consumerism. An economic crisis, a crisis of values, an identity crisis: the globalized world is characterized by a loss of meaning. At a time when social networks are exploding outwards, personal ties are broken; they have become virtual. This movement of secularization is primarily a denial of the sacredness of the world, breaking the link that exists between God, man and creation.
This “do not fear” is nothing other than the promise that the link still exists, that the link is indestructible because it is part of the infinite plan of God’s love for humanity. God, in becoming incarnate, that is to say, in taking upon Himself human nature, “recapitulates,” as St. Irenaeus of Lyons puts it, the bond of love between the Creator and His creatures, to raise them to the level of communion. The world in all its facets becomes an epiphany, a manifestation of God and His love.
The 32nd European meeting, the fourth in Poland, carries on the inspiration begun by Brother Roger, for whom reconciliation between brothers and sisters in Christianity was the only ferment of the “pilgrimage of trust on earth.” 30 000 young people are getting ready to meet in Poznan for five days. In addition to meetings and times of sharing, participants will experience this bond of communion and fraternity, while also trying to become these divine epiphanies themselves by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
God entered the world and is now part of history, reminding people that all freedom is found by searching in Him and through Him. While Europe has just commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the event was not possible without the mobilization of Christians. From the non-violent demonstrations organized by the Protestant churches of Leipzig, to international efforts by the Pope of Rome, John Paul II, who kept on crying out “Do not fear,” through the mobilization of Orthodox Churches inside and outside the Soviet bloc, the fall of the Berlin Wall is not only the end of a historical sequence or a purely political event; its greatness is ecumenical.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe no longer recognizes the place for Christianity that history had dedicated to it. Indeed, while the union of European countries is being worked out politically and economically, its history and identity are apparently being called into question. It is as if Christianity were being expelled from the history of Europe. So we wish to recall here that the identity of Europe is primarily Christian and cannot be considered without this legacy. The secularization of Europe here takes the form of a rejection of the God of history. Nonetheless, the mobilization of Christians throughout Europe, as the gathering of Poznań shows, is an important initiative recalling the Christian roots of this continent, its identity and its values.
Finally, the incarnation of God in history is ongoing in the life of the Church and shines on the whole of creation. The desacralization of the world also affects nature and the environment. Once their priest, man has now become their executioner. A new wall has been created, this one invisible, which cuts him off from the environment and destroys his relationship to nature. Rediscovering the sanctity of creation, protecting nature, making the environment a theophany, these are new challenges for Christians today. Thus, as Christians across Europe were able to mobilize to tear down the Berlin Wall and end the Cold War, we must mobilize against the “war of global warming.”
During these five days, we urge you to pray especially for the planet. We also urge you, all those taking part in the European meeting in Poznań, to be living witnesses of Christ born, witnesses of the Risen Christ, of a God present in history, of a God of creation.
How can we bear this testimony?
Christ himself says in the Gospel according to Saint John: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
Therefore, “do not fear!”
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I wholeheartedly greet the organizers and participants of the annual meeting of Christian youth in Europe initiated by the Taizé Community. These meetings of young Christians are very important. It is you, young people, to whom the future of our continent belongs. It is you on whom tomorrow depends. It is you who determine in what kind of a world the coming generations will live.
This year the meeting is held in Poland, which became the first victim of the fascist aggression 70 years ago that started the most terrible humanitarian catastrophe in history. Millions of human lives were sacrificed to the raging lust for power. We remember and grieve over those who died in that terrible war and we should do everything possible to prevent such things from repeating themselves. Clearly, it is human passion that caused it, and the most weak and vulnerable people once again became its main victims.
The economic crisis has shown that an economic construction cannot be solid without an ethical support. The original meaning of the term ‘economy’ is ‘management of a household’. The absence of moral principles leads not to harmony and common good but to destruction.
Let us recall that the Greek word ‘crisis’ means ‘judgment’. The grave political and economic situation today is a judgment of the principles and ideals dominating the awareness of our contemporaries. However, every judgment presupposes not only a punishment but also an opportunity for reformation, an opportunity to abandon one’s delusion and to return to the right path.
You, young people, with your uncompromising stand and fearlessness are called to build our common home on the basis of justice, Christian morality and the idea of the common good. It may seem paradoxical, but what stands closest to this Christian daring is the evangelical maximalism of the monastic tradition, both Eastern and Western. It is not accidental that your meeting is held under the aegis of the Taizé Community, which pursues the ideal of monastic brotherhood.
St. Seraphim of Sarov, a great Russian ascetic, gave an apt expression to the basic law of spiritual life in this advice: ‘Seek the spirit of peace and thousands around you will be saved’. The transformation of the world will be possible only if human souls are transformed. Monasticism can teach people today to seek ‘the spirit of peace’ through the right building of one’s personal life.
It is my conviction that the embodiment of the gospel’s ideal in the personal life of each of us can lead to ‘the salvation of thousands’ and to a world built on the principles of justice and love.
The age-old Church tradition, which is always new, bears eternal values which are the only reliable foundation for building a common home of the human civilization in such a way that it may not fear the ‘rains, winds and storms’ (cf. Mt. 7:24-25) troubling this century. I wish that you may discover for yourselves these priceless treasures and make them a guide in your life.
From my heart I wish you God’s help in holding this meeting.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams
My brothers and sisters, dear friends,
I am so privileged to be able to send my prayers and greetings as you meet in Poznań for this European gathering as part of the ‘pilgrimage of trust on earth’. My visit to Taizé last August was a gift and grace that I shall long remember, and it was wonderful to experience again the special atmosphere of joy and of mutual service and welcome, and to feel myself ministered to by so many people from across the world.
In these days, you will be sharing your thoughts about many of the most pressing challenges of our world. At the heart of all the questions is one that is perhaps the most urgent and searching of all: what is it to live a truly human life?
We have seen how humanity is defaced and injured by false ideas of wealth, by false ideas of security, by false ideas of freedom. Our calling as Christians is to lay bare to the world the truth of our human destiny. Jesus says that the truth will make us free (John 8.32) and that he has come to give life in abundance (John 10.10) – and that he himself is both truth and life, and also the way we must walk so as to reach truth and life (John 14.6).
The human destiny, then, is shown in Jesus – in a life of absolute awareness of the tragedy and need of the world, unrestrained generosity in meeting it, readiness for the danger and sacrifice that this brings, and above all, joy in undertaking such a path. Here is truth; here is humanity laid bare; here is life.
As the New Year begins, I wish you abundance of life in the truth and – to borrow the title of Pope Benedict’s great encyclical Caritas in veritate – of love in the truth. I pray that this gathering will be a moment of real revolution in understanding what we need in order to be what we were created to be, and in unmasking the false ideals and fantasies that hide the beauty of the true face of humanity – ‘the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (II Corinthians 4.6).
The Secretary General of the World Lutheran Federation, Rev. Ishmael Noko
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Lutheran World Federation I greet you, young friends from all over Europe and other parts of the world. As in the past you come together at year’s end continuing the “Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth”.
You gather in Poland at a time when the Christmas festival season is still upon us. I greet and share with you the words of the gospel writer Luke 2, 9-11:
“Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
‘Do not be afraid; for see—
I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people,
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is the Messiah, the Lord”.
The most striking thing about this passage is the human reaction to the announcement of the birth of Jesus. Today, the announcement of Christmas conjures images of beautifully decorated department stores, gifts wrapped in beautiful packages, boxes and containers of all kinds. It is never a fearful occasion, to say the least. But why were the shepherds fearful on hearing the announcement of the birth of Jesus? There were probably many reasons, among was the fear of Herod the Great. He was a king known for his cruelty. During his reign he had put to death many people including members of his own family. Some of this fear might have been related to the unruly behavior of Roman soldiers who occasionally exercised their authority in ways that were not acceptable or were inhuman. They might have been fearful because of the general economic and political environment in occupied Palestine of that time which generated instability and uncertainty in all spheres of life.
In the context of all these concerns and worries the Angels on one hand respond by saying, “Do not be afraid”. The reason they give is that Christ the Saviour is born in Bethlehem! However, the fact that Christ was born in Bethlehem does not in itself guarantee tranquillity. But what is important in the message of the Angels for our troubled world of today is that Christ is born beyond the little town of Bethlehem. He must be born in our hearts so that we can experience the good news and the joy he brings to our world. The acceptance of Christ through faith gives us strength and courage to face the challenges of our time. Therefore the good news in all these things is that Christ our Redeemer is among us and has the last word about our future. We need not fear any more.
Therefore as you gather in Poland be assured of our prayerful thoughts for the success of this important Europe-wide event. May the Lord bless you and care for you in the days ahead.
The Secretary General of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Dr Setri Nyomi
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches joins the people of Poland in welcoming young people to this year’s pilgrimage led by the Taizé community. As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded of the Prince of peace who came to bring peace on earth and to challenge us to new lifestyles that give us new perspectives on how we live together in this world in peace and how we use the world’s resources.
It is my prayer that as young people gather in Poznan, Poland, you will enjoy yourselves and you will also use the time to build new communities of trust. Our world needs it. May the Saviour born in Bethlehem, 2000 years ago, bring a new sense of peace and hope.
We thank God for the ministry of the Taizé community and pray that this year’s event will start something new, creative and filled with hope for thousands of young people.
May God bless you.
The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Jozef Michalik
Dear Brother Alois,
Dear Brothers,
Dear young people, friends of Taizé
Thank you for sending the "Letter from China." It is a step towards enhancing the formation of young people interested in the life of the Church, who see it rejoiced by spiritual joys coming through suffering, difficulties and trials.
This is indeed also true in the life of each person. It is good and necessary for us to help each other in various ways, above all by prayer. I am pleased that this year’s meeting in Poznan will once again gather a crowd of young people and their friends into a special community, the communion of prayer.
I wish that you all may feel close to Jesus—you are, after all, are gathered in his Name! May the grace of God’s blessing be with you in this New Year and throughout your life.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki Moon
I send warm greetings to all the young people who have travelled to Poland for this year’s Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth.
I welcome your emphasis on community. Alone, we can achieve very little. But collective action can change the world for the better.
I particularly welcome your emphasis at this year’s Pilgrimage on social issues, including the meaning of freedom.
Freedom is among the foundations of human development and well-being. Yet freedom is sometimes taken for granted. But millions of people around the world enjoy only partial or fragmented freedom. While they may have the freedom to travel, or the freedom to pursue their studies, many people do not have the freedom to choose how they are governed, or to express their political or religious beliefs. Elsewhere, people may enjoy freedom fleetingly, or feel that their freedom is under constant threat. And, of course, there are thousands of people who are imprisoned for their legitimate beliefs and enjoy no freedom at all.
The United Nations works for fundamental freedoms throughout the world, in keeping with our founding Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thank you for your support of that global mission, and for your own commitment to justice, solidarity and peace.
Please accept my best wishes for a fruitful pilgrimage that will contribute to our shared goal of a peaceful and prosperous world.
Mr Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council
The unification of Europe was inspired by the profoundly Christian idea of forgiveness and reconciliation after centuries of wars.
It was also inspired by the desire for freedom after decades of communist dictatorship.
The Churches in Poland, among others, played a large role in this liberation.
But the work is not done. We must struggle every day against the particularistic, self-centered and xenophobic tendencies in our Europe. We must continue to seek unity in diversity.
This is a great work of solidarity and love.
The President of the European Commission, Mr Manuel Barroso
Dear friends of Taizé and young people from throughout the world,
You are gathered together again, tens of thousands of young people from East and West, from the four corners of our continent and even beyond the borders of Europe, to celebrate peace and solidarity and to reflect together on the meaning of sharing and of freedom.
The city of Poznań and Poland, which were selected by the Taizé Community for your gathering this year, evoke two crucial dates in our history: the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, and the fall of the Iron Curtain in the autumn of 1989, which allowed the return of democracy to Central Europe and paved the way for the reunification of our continent.
It is in this context of keeping memory alive and celebrating restored freedom and unity that I also want to welcome you and encourage you to continue your mission. I recall with great pleasure my meeting with Brother Alois last year here at the headquarters of the European Commission, and the message you wished to bring to Brussels.
My admiration and best wishes are with you.
The President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Lech Kaczyński
Dear young pilgrims from Europe and around the world,
I would like to convey my most sincere and heartfelt greetings on the occasion of this extraordinary event which is the young adult European meeting in Poznań. I am very pleased to see so many of you come to Poland to undertake once again a pilgrimage for peace, truth and freedom, and to show that this can unite young people from different nations, professing different faiths and ideologies.
It’s already the 32nd time that your pilgrimage of trust is held in a European city, this time once again in Poland, in the city of Poznań. It is a great honor for us to receive young people coming in large numbers from many European countries and from other continents.
I cherish the hope that this stay in Poznań will be for you a great spiritual experience.
You are meeting in Poland at the end of a year that has known anniversaries of great importance. On September 1st, we commemorated the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, which brought great suffering to many nations and proved lethal on a scale hitherto unknown. The memory of the atrocities of that war makes us permanently aware that peace is a priceless value. During this year we also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism in Poland and other countries in our region. The movement which greatly helped to eliminate communism in Poland and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe was one of Solidarność (Solidarity). It was born of the desire to head towards peace, truth and freedom. These are values that the modern world so desperately needs. The Taizé Community has been seeking to promote them for many years now. I wish to express my hope that your meeting this year will help to stabilize peace, truth and freedom in Europe and around the world, and in a significant manner.
Once again, I wish you all may live the coming days in prayer and meditation. I also extend to you my best wishes for happiness and prosperity for the new year 2010.