This week, there are over 50 different countries represented in Taizé for our weekly meetings, from every part of the world except Antarctica. A very warm welcome to you all! Our diversity of backgrounds, languages, cultures and traditions brings challenges, but is it not also a wonderful sign in our world today?

It is possible to live a visible sign of unity in our human family, what our community calls a “parable of communion” as we pray together, listen to the Word of God and build a common life throughout these days. Does not what we are experiencing here these days renew our hope? And is it not Christ who renews that hope, who tells us through his Resurrection that suffering and death will never have the final world.

As I prepared the letter “Hoping beyond all hope”, I wanted to listen to young people who live in situations where war wreaks havoc. Their faith in God and in the Resurrection of Jesus was something that touched me immensely. Far from being an escape from their troubles, for many of them it was what enabled them to hold firm and do what they could to help others.

In a few moments, Bozena, who comes from Ukraine and is volunteering this summer in Taizé, will share some thoughts, but first of all I wanted to say some words about the Gospel reading we have just heard.

Jesus, after healing many different people, returns to his home town. At first, as the people hear him speak, they are amazed at his wisdom and all that he has done. But very quickly their attitude changes.

They think they know Jesus, they know his family and background. They are unable to see the gift of God that he offers through his life, as if God can only be recognised in the unusual and spectacular rather than in the ordinariness of daily human existence.

And Jesus says “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his won home.”

In a few days, you will be leaving Taizé. Perhaps you are returning to places where people are not particularly interested in Jesus, like in his own home town. But is it not important to reflect on what you have experienced these days? Was it something spectacular and unusual? Or was it in fact simple and ordinary?

Prayer, reading the Bible and sharing with others are not always sensational and breath-taking. They can be quite ordinary in many ways. If when you return home, you can look for a few minutes to pray each day, to listen to the Word of God and perhaps to do something with other believers every few days or at least once a week, then you might be surprised to see what is possible.

In some ways, you need to forget Taizé in order to live from the beauty of what you have discovered here. Taking even tiny steps each day to live out what you have understood about trust in Jesus will enable you to go forward and continue to renew your hope.

Many of you have come with other people. How can you continue to support each other as you return home? We all need community and when that is possible in our local Churches, where each of us has a role to play, then communion in Christ becomes tangible.

And now Bozena will say some words:

“The city where I live in Ukraine is not under occupation, and there are no active battles there. But the war affects everything. Every day I ask myself: what can I do today — for others, for myself, for my country? Because no one knows if there will be a “tomorrow”. Many Ukrainians live with a sense of uncertainty — not knowing what will happen in a week, in a month, or next year. That’s why each day carries a special weight — we live today and have the chance to act now.Taizé became a place where I can not only feel peace in the present moment but also dare to think about the future with hope. It is a place where I feel accepted. A place where someone is waiting for you. Support means being present — even from afar. It means not staying silent, speaking the truth about the situation in Ukraine, and remembering us.But the greatest support for us is prayer. Because prayer has no borders — it connects people even when nothing else seems to. Sometimes a person has no strength to pray — and then someone else prays in their place. This is already the third year of war, and we deeply need your prayer and support.We are truly grateful for the boundless help we receive from other countries. Thank you for being open to helping, for your sensitive and kind hearts. This is a real sign of love — when people from different countries, languages, and cultures become one family. Even in the darkness of war, we see light — in your support, in your presence, and in your prayers.This week we are organizing a special project — an exhibition of children’s drawings from Ukraine which is called “Colours of Hope”. The children of Ukraine are children of war. They know what it means to be afraid and to hide. They know how to quickly pack their things. They know what is most important to take to the shelter. They have heard the sound of sirens more often than the sound of children’s laughter in the yard. They are older than their age — because the reality around them forced them to grow up too fast.But at the same time, these are children who know what hope is. Children who can see light, even when everything around is dark. They don’t only draw tanks or destruction — they draw the sun, their families, birds, and peace. For me personally, this exhibition is more than just art. It is a sign of hope. Hope that life will win. Hope in us, Ukrainians, and the strength of our spirit. Hope for a future where there will be peace.”

We will not forget the people of Ukraine, as we will not forget the people of Gaza and all who suffer in the Holy Land and Middle East. Last week, a woman born in Gaza was with us. Her nephew was badly injured in the bombing of the Holy Family Catholic Church, but was able to receive help..

When we look at the situation in Gaza and in Ukraine, but see also what is happening in Sudan, Haiti, Nicaragua and other places in our troubled world, we can ask ourselves, where is God? But does not God ask us, as Bozena said, to remember those caught up in these conflicts to seek ways of showing our solidarity?

Please come and join us tomorrow already at 8pm here in the church as we pray in silence for peace in our world like on every Friday evening. A silent prayer might not seem much, but it can be a sign of solidarity with those who cannot express their suffering and who are without words. During that prayer, intuitions can rise within us showing what action we could possibly take.

At the end of this year, our European Meeting will take place in Paris and the surrounding Île de France region. If you are aged 18 to 35, we would be so happy to welcome you there from December 28 to January 1. The Archbishop of Paris and bishops of the province have made such a warm invitation, together with Orthodox and Protestant Church leaders, that we rejoice already!

A final word: We have been so grateful for the presence of Bishops Michael, Jonathan, Smitha and Graham from the Church of England this week and also Archbishop Stephen of York who was with us for the first part of the week. Coming with young people from your dioceses, your friendship and support is so important. Thank you.

On Monday, I will leave for Rome where there will be the Jubilee for Youth. With five other brothers, we will lead prayers with songs from Taizé in the church of Santa Maria in Aracœli. On the Friday evening, there will be an ecumenical prayer with the Jesuit youth movement Magis and Chemin Neuf community in Sant’Ignazio church. We will then take part in the prayer vigil and Eucharist with Pope Leo, who I was able to meet on July 4, before returning to Taizé.

And during the third week of August, there will be a week sharing and witness of the Orthodox faith here in Taizé. In this way, we live our passion for the unity of all who love Christ.