"We are deeply shocked and dismayed to hear about the stabbing of Brother Roger. He had many friends among the evangelical community who valued his devotion to God and his selfless service to others for over half a century," Rev Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance said Wednesday.
Roger, 90, died when a mentally disturbed person attacked him with a knife during evening prayers at the Reconciliation church in the Eastern Burgandy city of Taize, members from his community said.
The Taize movement began during World War II, when the Swiss-born Protestant theologian Roger Schutz provided a refuge for those fleeing the conflict, irrespective of their nationality or religion. Since then, Roger had devoted his life to reconciliation between Christian denominations.
The small Taize community is made-up of about 100 members from several Christian denominations from some 30 countries and welcomes tens of thousands of young people each year for spiritual reflection and prayer. Nearly 2,500 youth were at the Reconciliation church when Roger died.
In Cologne, Germany, thousands of young Catholics, who had gathered for World Youth Day, mourned Roger’s death. And in London, the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his condolences for the members of Taize.
''This is an indescribable shock. Brother Roger was one of the best loved Christian leaders of our time, and hundreds of thousands will be feeling his loss very personally, and remembering him in prayer and gratitude,” said Archbishop Rowan Williams. “But the shock and trauma for the community at Taizé will be heavy – and it will be for all the young people who witnessed this event. All of them are in our prayers.”
Meanwhile, World Council of Churches acting general secretary Genevieve Jacques expressed his condolences and praised Roger for his "unceasing search for authentic ecumenical dialogue" which reached across "institutional barriers."
Pauline J. Chang
Christian Today Correspondant