Faithful God, we thank you for the life of our dear Pope Francis, whom you called to be with you this morning. He rests in your light, having given his life in the service of your Gospel, in the mystery of communion that is the Body of Christ, the Church. With courage, he urged us to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit today, and to go to the outskirts of the Church and the margins of society to live a sign of greater love. Praise be to you!

As the news of Pope Francis’ death reached us in Taizé, it is with deep emotion that we pray for him, filled with deep gratitude for his life.

The news of the Argentine Pope’s election on March 13, 2013, and his first words in St. Peter’s Square brought us great joy at Taizé. Several brothers were present in Rome at the time, and I myself was in Russia, in the city of Nijniy Novgorod, welcomed by an Argentinian Catholic priest. It was the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Maria Bergoglio, who had sent him to Russia a few years earlier.

Having watched the live announcement together, the priest exclaimed: I’m Catholic, you’re Anglican, we’re in an Orthodox country - this is the sign that this pontificate will be ecumenical! And when I hear those words again, I can only confirm them.

We are particularly grateful to Pope Francis for having worked so hard for Christian unity. He did so through landmark visits and concrete gestures that increased communion. I recall, for example, his visit to the Phanar in November 2014, during which we were deeply moved by his words: "It is precisely young people - I’m thinking, for example, of the multitudes of young Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants who meet in the international gatherings organized by the Taizé Community - it is they who today ask us to take steps forward towards full communion. And they do so, not because they are unaware of the significance of the differences that still separate us, but because they know how to see beyond them, they are able to grasp the essential that already unites us."

Among the gestures that marked his pontificate, I recall in particular his friendship with Patriarch Bartholomew, with numerous Orthodox and Protestant leaders, and his fraternal welcome of Pope Tawadros to Rome in May 2013, his trip to South Sudan with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, and also his presence at the ceremonies commemorating 500 years of the Lutheran Reformation in Lund, Sweden, where he expressed his gratitude “for the spiritual and theological gifts received through the Reformation”.

On this day, the memory of the “Together” ecumenical prayer vigil is particularly close to my heart. From the very beginning of this idea, which originated with my predecessor Brother Alois at the opening of the Synod on Synodality, the Pope expressed his full support, then accompanied the project and issued this invitation in January 2023: “The path of Christian unity and the path of the synodal conversion of the Church are linked. (...) From now on, I invite brothers and sisters of all Christian confessions to take part in this gathering of the people of God”. His presence in St. Peter’s Square on September 30, 2023, and the way he welcomed Christian leaders from all the Churches, demonstrated a genuine desire for fraternal communion in charity.

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From the very beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis’ 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, spoke deeply to us at Taizé. He gave value to those who thought they had none. And I know how much his encyclical “Laudato Si” challenged many people, as did his attention to inter-religious dialogue, which enabled him to forge friendships beyond Christian circles.

His trust in us, and in me as prior of the Taizé Community, remains a gift from God, for which we offer a prayer of thanksgiving today. A few weeks ago, I was due to see him again for another audience, but his hospitalization prevented this, and the following day we gathered with leaders of various Christian denominations in Rome for an ecumenical prayer, following which we rejoiced at the news of his release from hospital.

His pontificate came to an end on Easter Monday. With the brothers and the many young people gathered in Taizé these days, we pray for him, filled with profound gratitude for his life and his service to the Gospel and the Church.

Brother Matthew, prior of Taizé
Easter Monday, April 21, 2025

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The Community held its annual Community Council from 19 to 26 January. On Sunday evening, a common prayer concluded the Council with the sign of prostration by which the brothers recall the day of their commitment. Beforehand, Brother Matthew said the following prayer:

God of hope, blessed are you!

We thank you for these days of retreat and Council that you have enabled us to live together.

We thank you for your call to each one of us to follow your Son Jesus every day in our community, whether we are in Taizé or on mission in the fraternities. Enable us to listen to the whisper of the gentle breeze of his voice, he who is gentle and humble of heart, and lead us to grasp ever more deeply what you expect of us today.

We thank you for the witness of the lives of our brothers Charles-Eugène and Rudolf, whom you have welcomed into your eternal peace. We thank you for the brothers who have made their life commitment in the community and for the new brothers who have joined us this year.

May your Holy Spirit rekindle in us the passion for the unity of all those who live from the Gospel, who love Christ; rekindle in us the flame of fraternal love; rekindle in us the desire to deepen a life in you, a contemplative gaze.

May we remain all small so that we can welcome with empty hands the gift you offer us, the gift of each person, the gift of your creation, the gift of your presence, so that we may become gift in our turn.

May we keep our door open for those you entrust to us, and may our house more and more echo the presence of Christ.

Together, may we bring to Christ at every moment that which is paralysed in us, in our community, in the Church and in the world you have loved so much. Help us to accept that we too sometimes need to be carried by others.

Help us to understand how to live and speak of your forgiveness among ourselves, and how to understand it where there are wounds and injustice.

Day after day, you invite us, God of hope, to drink from the source of your love, an inexhaustible source of kindness and compassion that never disappoints.

Lead our steps along the path of peace and make us pilgrims of hope, pilgrims of this peace.

Together with two other brothers, this trip enabled him to pray with young people in Lviv, Ternopil and Kyiv, and also to meet many witnesses of the suffering and courage of the Ukrainian people. Brother Matthew also met several leaders of the two Orthodox Churches and all the bishops of the Greek-Catholic Church, who were meeting in synod at the sanctuary of Zarvanitsya.

In the town of Zhitomyr, he took part in a gathering with teachers and pupils of a Catholic school in the town, and then went on a pilgrimage of remembrance to the towns of Irpin and Bucha, where the traces of the occupation by the Russian armed forces in the spring of 2022 are still visible.

On the last evening of his stay in Ukraine, during a prayer in the Latin Catholic church in Kyiv, Brother Matthew said to the young people gathered: “We are going back to France, but we will not forget you. We are going to pass on your courageous testimony to the young people we will meet in Taizé. This is the time of the Resurrection: sometimes it is difficult to believe in the Resurrection, but it teaches us that suffering will not have the last word”.

Contacts

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 Requests and photos specifically linked with the brothers’ stay in Ukraine: ukraine taize.fr.

From the fire, women from the village and sisters from the different communities present in Taizé took the Easter light and led the procession towards the Church of Reconciliation. At 8.00, they knocked three times on the door of the church and the Light of the Resurrection enter to the song of ¨Mshiha qam" (The Messiah lives), announcing in whispers "He is alive".

And as the Paschal candle was lit "Lumen Christi" (The Light of Christ) was sung, to which all responded "Deo gratias" (Thanks be to God) and the light spread throughout the church. And not only light, but that joy which rises in our hearts as we sing the Resurrection.

At the end of the service, in 20 different languages, our lips and hearts proclaimed:
 Christ is risen!
 He is risen indeed!

Risen Christ, like John, Peter, and Mary of Magdala on the morning of your Resurrection, we seek for you everywhere, but you always go ahead of us. Even if we perceive nothing of your presence, help us too to believe in the sign of the empty tomb. May the day come when we understand that you were there and that you send us out to bring the good news of your love to all creation.

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The olive branches were blessed by the Lutheran Bishop Fredrik Modéus, from Växjö in Sweden, and by Sr Delia, from the Protestant deaconess community in Riehen, Switzerland. Here are the prayers both wrote for the occasion.

- From Bishop Fredrik :

Christ, you walk the path of love for us and before us. When we hesitate, you wait patiently. Today, we stand at the threshold of the mystery. Let us follow you in trust, love and obedience, and rise to eternal life. Amen.

- From Sr Delia :

Jesus the Christ, you entered Jerusalem gentle and humble of heart. You came, not to be served, but to serve and give your life for us. And in giving yourself, you welcome us. In our joy, in our singing, you perceive our longing for you. In you we place our trust. During this Holy Week, enable us to welcome your love. Amen.

Recalling the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, all went from there to the Church of Reconciliation, with branches in hand.

On Sunday morning, for the Feast of Palm Sunday, the brothers and young people present at #Taizé gathered at 9.15am at the Saint-Etienne spring. Recalling the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, all went from there to the Church of Reconciliation, with branches in hand. pic.twitter.com/xrCU4pikoe

— Taizé (@taize) March 24, 2024

700 more people joined us for the Easter weekend including over 200 from Italy. At midday, Brother Matthew prayed the following words:

"Not knowing any longer how to manifest his love, God sent you, Christ Jesus, to dwell among us. And even if we are tempted to distance ourselves from you, you show us the way of a greater love, to the point that our hearts sing and rejoice in you: you will be with us for ever."

And in the evening prayer, after reading the passage from John 13, the brothers commemorated Jesus’ act of washing the feet of his friends, expression of that greater love which goes as far as giving our lives. A circle of 50 stools was set up in the first extension of the church and all who wished could come to sit and have their feet washed.

Afterwards, the celebration of the Eucharist recalled the Last Supper of Jesus with his friends before entering into his Passion.

- Sophia, from Germany

“The washing of the feet felt very special to me. In that moment I felt seen and totally accepted the way I am. As the brothers did the same service as Jesus in the Gospel, I was able to understand for the first time how the disciples must have felt on Maundy Thursday.”

- Marie, from Germany

“Spending time in Taizé during Holy Week was like a fresh breeze in my heart and solidified my faith even further. The most special moment was on Good Friday, when the bell rang and everybody stood still and was quiet. Hundreds or thousands of people stopped what they were doing for Jesus! This was a high feeling of community and faith for me.”

On Friday evening, the icon of the cross was carried in procession at the start of the prayer by brothers, joined by young people and children. It led us into the night of prayer as many people came to entrust to Jesus on the cross their burdens and those of the human family.

The Church of Reconciliation was stripped of all its decorations on this day of the Great Silence: candles, icons and the coloured tiles of the choir were removed. The following litany was prayed during the midday prayer:

The Church of Reconciliation was stripped of all its decorations on this day of the Great Silence: candles, icons and the coloured tiles of the choir were removed. The following litany was prayed during the midday prayer:

 Come, let us contemplate our Life lying in the tomb, to give life to those who in their tombs lie dead. You who gave yourself for our sake, glory to you, O Lord!

 On this day, a tomb holds the One who holds all creation in the palms of his hands, glory to you, O Lord!

 Sleeps Life and the kingdom of the dead trembles. You have given an everlasting peace: your resurrection from the dead, glory to you, O Lord!

 O tomb, who received the Creator as someone who fell asleep, you become a treasure of life for our salvation, glory to you, O Lord!

 The Life of all accepted to be laid in the tomb. He transfigures it into a fount of renewal, glory to you, O Lord!

 Let all creation rejoice, let all the inhabitants of the earth rejoice, for death has been stripped of its fearful mask, glory to you, O Lord!

 And God blessed the seventh day, the day of rest on which God’s beloved Son rested from all his works, glory to you, O Lord!

 By suffering his death, the Saviour maintained God’s peace in the flesh, and through his Resurrection he gave us eternal life, glory to you, O Lord!

During Brother Matthew’s Saturday meditation, Ivanka from Ukraine shared the following words when asked how we can continue to support her people:

- Ivanka, from Ukraine :

War is very exhausting and some people are feeling very down, so please remain for us, Ukrainians a visible sign of hope. Stay with us faithfully till the end. Pray and talk not only about peace but also don’t forget about justice. Proclaim truth about the crimes, and don’t be afraid to call evil by its name.

And Ülle, a deacon from Estonia, invited young people to take part in the European meeting in Tallinn at the end of this year:

- Ülle, from Estonia :

We look forward to welcoming you to Estonia. It’s a small country with a big heart. Come and help us tell our young people about Jesus. Come and pray for peace. Come and build an open, safe and fraternal Europe for today.