Yesterday, we were able to see the partial solar eclipse. It was a strangely beautiful moment when we felt something of the wonder of God’s marvellous creation, of which we are a part. One of the psalms says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Together with the shooting stars we have seen in recent days, I think many of us have felt something of this wonder.

Though we are worried about climate change, the loss of biodiversity and whether an ecological transition is still possible, we must never lose our sense of wonder at all that we see in creation. This can encourage us as we make choices in our lives that seek to care for our common home.

In a few moments, Izu from Myanmar will say some words to us, but first of all I wanted to say something about the feast of Mary that we will celebrate on Saturday.

The feast of the Assumption of Mary is a feast of hope for all humanity. Through her listening to God and the simplicity of her yes to God, Mary received Jesus and gave him to the world. She believed that nothing was impossible for God and, when she met her cousin Elisabeth, she sang the praise of God’s merciful love which can change the world as we let it transform our own lives.

Mary was with Jesus at each stage of his earthly ministry, from his childhood right up to his death on the cross. She was with the disciples in the room in Jerusalem at Pentecost, as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit and as the new community of believers was born.

In this way, Mary becomes a model for all of us who want to listen to God, who long to welcome Jesus, who desire to be with him at every step of his journey, who wish to be led by the Holy Spirit and enter into the mystery of communion which is the Body of Christ, the Church.

This week, someone asked me: What happens after we die? I tried to be honest and said that I didn’t know, but that Jesus promised that whoever believes in him will have eternal life (Jn 6.40). We cannot speculate about what life after death might mean. In the end, we can only trust in the promises that Jesus makes and live from the hope that is already becoming present as we await their fulfilment.

The resurrection of Jesus tells us that death will never have the last word. God’s love is stronger than death. If tradition tells us that Mary was taken up bodily after her death into a life that will never end, she is not the end of the story. Her feast is a sign pointing towards Christ and towards the hope of resurrection offered to us all. Her yes to God was also a yes to the promises of God embodied by Jesus. As we say our yes to those promises, they renew our hope.

Izu speaks:

Good evening everyone. My name is Izu. I come from Myanmar, in Southeast Asia. When I was asked to share about Mary, I honestly didn't know what I could say, but I took some time to reflect on her life and on my own experience, and this is the small reflection that came to my heart.

When I think about Mary, I do not only think of her as the mother of Jesus. I think of her as a young woman who trusted God without knowing what the future would look like. When the angel announced God's plan to her, Mary did not have all the answers — she simply said yes. Her journey was not easy, but she continued to trust God.

For me, this is one of the most beautiful things about her: she teaches me that faith does not always mean understanding everything. Sometimes faith means trusting God and taking the next step even when I am afraid. As a Catholic from Myanmar, I have grown up hearing about Mary and praying with her, but as I have experienced the difficulties of life, I have begun to understand her in a more personal way.

Myanmar has been suffering from conflict and civil war, and many people are living with fear, uncertainty, displacement, and separation from their loved ones. I have seen how suffering can change people's lives and make young people question their future. Sometimes, when I see so much pain around me, I ask, "Where is God?" and "What can I do?"

In these moments, Mary becomes especially meaningful to me. She reminds me of a mother who does not run away when her child is suffering — she remains present. At the cross, Mary could not take away Jesus' suffering, but she stayed with him. For me, this is a powerful image for Myanmar: even when we cannot immediately change the situation, we can choose to remain with those who suffer, to listen, to care, and to hope.

Here in Taizé, surrounded by people from different countries and Christian traditions, I believe Mary can speak to all of us — not only as a Catholic devotion, but as a witness of faith, courage, and hope. Her story reminds us that saying yes to God can lead us into an uncertain journey, but we do not have to walk it alone. I pray that Mary may remind the people of Myanmar, and all those suffering around the world, that they are not forgotten. And I pray that all of us here may become people who stay close to those who suffer, and become instruments of peace. Thank you very much.

It feels like a miracle that you can be with us from Myanmar. We hold your country in our prayers. The situations in Ukraine, Lebanon, Palestine, Iran and the whole Middle East rightly draw our attention, but we must not forget countries like Myanmar, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti and Nicaragua, where war is also raging and causing great suffering.

On Sunday, it will be 21 years since the death of Brother Roger. He arrived in Taizé in 1940, when he was just 25 years old, during the Second World War. He had left neutral Switzerland and began by welcoming refugees, some of them Jewish, living at first alone. After the war, the first brothers came to join him, and he was able to minister to German prisoners of war held in a camp in the nearby valley.

Last year, when I was in Rome with some brothers for the Jubilee of Young People, a woman from Gaza approached me and asked if we could compose a song with the words from Psalm 85: “May love and truth meet, and justice and peace embrace.” This week, we have been singing a first version of this song. Please remember those living in situations of war as you sing it.

So, please come and join us tomorrow evening at 8 pm as we pray in silence for peace in our troubled world. The same psalm says: “I will hear what God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace.” As you return home, please continue to pray for peace, even in silence, because it is difficult to find the words to express what we feel.

We also remember the people of Colombia in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck their country this week.

Finally, I would like to ask Ania to say something about the European meeting in Łódź:

If I can tell you one thing about Łódź, and why it's so important for us — for you, for people from Taizé — to come to Łódź, it's about the heart.

The heart of Łódź is ecumenism. Flowing through our veins is unity, dialogue and openness. Our city wouldn't have been built if it weren't for unity in difference — Jews, Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics who came together to build something so impactful.

So we truly want each and every one of you to feel welcome to come. Polish families will welcome you with open arms, huge smiles, tables filled with DELICIOUS food, but especially warm hearts.

My friends and the young people of Łódź are waiting for you — don't let us down! See you in Łódź