Helping People Who Have Lost the Sense of God

(December 30, 2009) In a Message addressed to the annual meeting promoted by the Taize Community, being held this year in the Polish city of Poznan from 29 December to 2 January, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI has called on the young participants to go and meet men and women who have lost the sense of God, who seek uncertainly for Him, sometimes without realising it. “They need to encounter true witnesses", the English-language Message added, "so that the face of Christ may shine for them. May God inspire the actions and words that will make accessible to others, when you return home to your countries, the hope that gives you life and the vitality that the Spirit wants to give to every human life.” Further, the Pope said, "Yes, rejoice in the thirst that He himself has placed in you: it expresses your dignity as sons and daughters of God. During this 32nd European meeting in Poland, a new stage of your pilgrimage of trust on earth, you will discover the joy of drawing from the wellsprings of the living God all together, the joy of fellowship in Christ. It is to this joy that His call leads you". Pope Benedict XVI concluded his Message by imparting his apostolic blessing to all those taking part in the meeting, to "the brothers of Taize, to everyone who helped organise the pilgrimage, to the pastors and believers who welcome you, and to your families".