The group is also known for its distinctive chants, many of which have come to be used and recognized well beyond the community.
Brother Roger Schütz, a Swiss Reformed Protestant, was Taizé’s founder and first prior. Loeser succeeded Schütz as prior after Schütz’s murder during a prayer service in 2005.
In an interview with “EWTN News Nightly” this week, Loeser, 69, said the death of Schütz is one of his most significant memories from his 49 years as a Taizé member.
“He was killed during the common prayer in the church,” Loeser told the show’s host Tracy Sabol on July 25, “and I had to take [on] the ministry [of prior] immediately the next day.”
“I found so much support in Pope Benedict” during that time, he added. “He supported us so much to continue our vocation of unity.”
The prior explained that today the community has approximately 90 brothers from different Christian denominations. “We want to live unity, the unity of Christians,” he said. “Christ asks us to be one so that the Gospel can really shine in the world.”
