Mgr Gérard Daucourt, Bishop of Nanterre, France, and member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, knew Brother Roger well. One year after his death, in an article published in “La Croix” on 16 August 2006, he evokes the founder of Taizé’s endeavour for reconciliation.“The Prior of Taizé was filled with a desire for reconciliation that touched the depths of his soul and impelled him to create breaches.” On 16 August 2005, when Brother Roger, at prayer with his brothers and with (...)
12 April 2008
Following an article published in “Le Monde” on 6 September 2006, Brother Alois replied to questions put by “La Croix”.La Croix: Did Brother Roger ever formally convert to Catholicism, as Yves Chiron, the historian, has just affirmed? Brother Alois: No. Brother Roger never “converted” formally to Catholicism. If he had, he would have said so; for he never hid anything about the path he was following. All through his books, often written in the form of a journal, he explained as he went along what (...)
Wednesday 17 August 2005. At the end of the general audience at Castelgandolfo, the Pope spoke of Brother Roger’s death This morning I received very sad, tragic news. During vespers yesterday evening, our beloved Brother Roger Schutz, founder of the Taizé Community, was stabbed and killed, probably by a mentally disturbed woman. This news has affected me even more because precisely yesterday I received a very moving, affectionate letter from Frère Roger. In it he wrote that from the depth of (...)
11 April 2008
Following the article in “Le Monde” on 6 September: “Brother Roger, founder of Taizé, had converted to Catholicism”Brother Roger had stated several times, and written in his last book, that he had reconciled within himself without a break his Reformed faith and the Catholic tradition. Are we able to respect the step he made and not try to reclaim in a confessional sense what he tried to overcome? Some Protestants often want to catholicise him; some Catholics want to see in this a conversion (...)
7 September 2006
TAIZÉ