The leader of the Taize community urged tens of thousands of young Christians from Europe who gathered in Geneva at the New Year to organise "vigils of reconciliation" for unity between churches that are divided from each other.
"How can we be credible in speaking of a God of love if we remain separate?" Brother Alois, prior of the ecumenical Taize community said in his meditation at a televised prayer service on 30 December at Geneva's Palexpo exhibition centre.
"It is up to you young people to take the initiative," said Brother Alois, who became the community's leader after the death in 2005 of its Swiss-born founder, Brother Roger. "Those who hold positions of responsibility in the churches will support you. It is up to you young people to prepare these 'vigils of reconciliation'."
In launching the community's "call in Geneva for the reconciliation of Christians", Brother Alois said, "Coming together in this way in prayer vigils is already a way of anticipating unity; it allows the Holy Spirit to unite us already."
The "European Meeting of Young Adults" from 28 December to 1 January included moments of prayer, silence, song and testimonies. Taize is a community of brothers that includes Protestants and Roman Catholics. It has developed its own style of music for meditation, using simple phrases, usually lines from the Psalms or other pieces of Scripture.
Brother Alois announced that the next European meeting would take place in Brussels, from 29 December 2008 to 2 January 2009, and that there would be a meeting for young adults from Africa in Nairobi in November 2008.
