Photos and Videos Courtesy of Taizé
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, participated in one of the meetings of the Taizé community. There, she desrcibed how much Taizé helped her family through a difficult time after her sister died of cancer.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN
President, Euorpean Commission
So it was a time of darkness and doubts. And Taizé and the spirit of Taizé – and we have spoken about it manifold during these two days – has so much hope in it and so much confidence in the future. And this was also the case 50 years ago. So it brought light and confidence and hope again back in my family. And I am still grateful.
The Taizé meetings resumed last Easter and since then, more than 20,000 young people have participated in their activities. Mrs. von der Leyen was one of the guest speakers and in her talk to young people, she reflected on the challenges facing Europe.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN
President, Euorpean Commission
But Europe, first and foremost, is an aspiration. And as such, it is never complete, never achieved once and for all. Europe is constant work in progress. It is every generation's responsibility to take Europe forward and to always make it better.
Taizé is an ecumenical Christian community founded in 1940 by Roger Schutz, who started this initiative to foster greater harmony among Christians.
KG/JRB
