On Monday, Pope Francis received Brother Alois, Prior of the Taize Community, at the Vatican. The Holy Father “was very attentive to the Community’s ecumenical vocation and reception of young people in Taize,” he reported on their official Web page.
On the occasion of the 100 years of the birth and 10 years of the death of Brother Roger, the Community’s Founder, the Pontiff “will pray in communion with all who will be gathered in Taize this coming August 16.»
During the meeting, Brother Alois thanked the Pope for announcing the celebration of a Year of Mercy during a Penitential Celebration last Friday in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Moreover, he said to the Holy Father how much the words he uses to speak of the love and forgiveness of God are like those that Brother Roger used.
For the Argentine Pontiff – noted the ecumenical Community located in France –, “mercy is the very heart of the Gospel.”
This was the second private audience that the present Prior has had with Francis since the beginning of his pontificate, two years ago now. Brother Alois had annual meetings with Benedict XVI. He follows the example of his predecessor, Brother Roger, who travelled to Rome every year to meet with Popes John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II.
