Pope Benedict Receives Leader of Taize Community

(31 Mar 09 - RV) Here at the Vatican yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI received the leader of the Taize ecumenical monastic community, Brother Alois, in private audience. Founded in 1940 on a rule of celibacy, simplicity and community, the Taize community has developed a distinctive manner of prayer and a spirituality that draws more than 100 thousand mostly young people for retreats at the home monastery each year. Brother Alois spoke with Irene Lagan about the attraction Taize has for youth from around the world…