A Universal Heart

In August 2005, Brother Roger, the charismatic founder and leader of the Taize community in France, was stabbed to death during a worship service where more than 2000 young people were present. Brother Roger's death came almost 65 years after he had crossed the border from his native Switzerland into war-ravaged France to attempt to realize 'a vision of reconciliation' in the tiny village of Taize. At a time when Europe was torn asunder, Brother Roger had asked himself why such conflict should exist between people, and particularly between Christians. He found himself called to establish a community in which reconciliation and peace would be made concrete day by day. Today, thousands of young people from all over the world and from all denominations gather each week at Taize to pray, study and worship. This is the updated biography of the man who made the phenomenon of Taize possible. It is the story of a life which took Brother Roger from the slums of Calcutta and New York?s Hell?s Kitchen to the United Nations building and the great cathedrals of Europe. Brother Roger was imbued with a spontaneity and wisdom that made him the companion of popes and of little children. He was one of the best-loved Christian leaders of our time and his biography will be of wide interest.