“I have come that they may have life, and life abundant.”—John 10:10

I am so happy to send our prayers and greetings to you, as you gather for this year’s Taizé youth encounter, and to encourage your ongoing ecumenical journey.

You meet at a time of particular pain for Europe—and indeed the world. All the more reason, then, to come together in faith. The world needs you, your youth and vision, your truth-telling and readiness to embrace life and serve humanity.

In these days of challenge, when so many find brokenness, pain, and despair, someone must stand up for hope. Let it be you! God desires it, Christ inspires it, and the Spirit enables it.

We at the World Council of Churches join your pilgrimage to our own. We will walk together. We will pray together. We will work together for justice, peace, and reconciliation.

So this is our prayer for you: May Ljubljana be for each of you the next step in your sacred journey of faith. May you find there the joys of community, the assurance of God’s loving presence, and the courage to continue seeking authenticity in your own lives and justice for all humanity. The God of Life leads us on. Let us embrace life, with all its perils and possibilities and, brought together in Christ, live in love for the world and its future.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay 
General Secretary
World Council of Churches