One day, Pope Saint Paul VI asked Brother Roger of Taizé what the ‘key to youth ministry’ was. He wanted to know the secret of communicating with young people and introducing the faith to them.
During the 1968 Revolution, many young people in Europe were rejecting tradition and authority and moving away from the church. Young people no longer took for granted the authority of the government, fathers, and the church (which seemed to oppress freedom), and ‘Ban the ban!’ became a slogan. The older generation of the church showed great concern and warnings, and as they did so, the gap with the youth deepened.
However, even amid the rapid wave of secularization, the number of young people visiting Taizé has increased. The Pope’s question came from that context. Brother Roger, who thought there was no special way to gather young people, could not give a straight answer to this.
Rather than trying to teach young people, the Taizé community first listened to their stories and invited them to simple and beautiful communal prayer. The brothers listened to the young people's aspirations for a more equal and free world and encouraged their commitment to making this land a better place for everyone.
Then and now, Taizé's facilities for welcoming guests are simple and the food is simple. We welcome young people as they are and try to patiently listen to their concerns, pain, doubts, and aspirations. This kind of selfless listening may be the key to the youth ministry that Pope St. Paul VI asked about.
World Youth Day (WYD), the largest international Catholic event, will be held in Korea in 2027. We will need to pool our wisdom and capabilities to invite young people, who are the protagonists, and encourage their participation. In a reality where church and faith are being pushed out of the priorities of young people, WYD is a great challenge and opportunity for us.
What does the church look like through the eyes of today’s youth? Is the church really becoming a place of universal fellowship for everyone? Is it a place where diversity is respected and celebrated? Is the church a safe space for women and minorities? What is the position of women, laity, and young people in the church's decision-making process?
Rather than expecting young people to change their lives through WYD, isn't it more necessary for the church to try to become younger?
Inviting young people to church does not mean expecting them to come back like the prodigal son. In an aging church, those who need reflection and conversion are clergy, religious, and lay leaders who have more responsibilities than young people. How do we live the gospel in society and the church? What kind of examples are we giving the young people? Are we listening to and accompanying young people who are searching for meaning in life?
Thorough preparation will be necessary. The more important question is this. What kind of place is the church for young people in Korea?
