Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad sent a telegramme of condolence with the murder of the Taize community Prior Fr. Roger Schutz

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, sent his condolences to the Taize community Prior with the tragic death of the founder and prior of the Taize Christian community Fr. Roger Schutz.

The full text of the message is given below.

To: Fr. Alois,

Prior of the Taize community

Dear brother in Christ,

Please accept my profound and sincere condolences with the villainous murder of Fr. Roger Schutz, a founder of the Taize community that he had led for many years.

The long life of Fr. Roger had been marked by his aspiration to peace and love commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ. In our difficult time, when many people influenced by the promoted values of secularism and consumption lose spiritual and moral guiding lines, he had been one of those who show another salutary way of faith, prayer and fraternal attitude to one’s neighbour.

In this regard Fr. Roger’s preaching of Christian values to European youth seems to be the most important part of his activities. The Taize community has become a place of meetings and dialogue for young people. We hope that the cause commenced by Fr. Roger’s will be continued by his followers.

May the Lord rest the soul of the late in the mansions of the righteous. May his memory be eternal!

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate

See also:

• His Holiness the Patriarch expressed his condolences to the Taize Community Prior with the tragic death of a well-known Christian leader Fr. Roger Schutz
• Fr. Roger of Taize Community Murdered during Divine Service