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When Fr Roger Schutz, founder of the ecumenical monastic community at Taizé, in south-east France, attended the April 2005 funeral of Pope John Paul II, he received Communion from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. This raised a few eyebrows at the time -- Shutz was a Protestant pastor -- and gave rise to speculation that "Brother Roger", as he was always known, had secretly converted to Catholicism. This idea was supported by what subsequently came to light: that Schutz had repeatedly received Eucharistic communion from John Paul II and received the Eucharist every morning at the Catholic Mass in Taizé. The question...

Some 10,000 people have attended the funeral of Brother Roger, the founder of the religious community of Taize. German President Horst Koehler, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and clergy from around the world were at the service. The 90-year-old Swiss-born theologian was stabbed to death by a Romanian woman while celebrating mass last week. He founded the community during World War II as a refuge to people of all Christian denominations. Taize, in the Burgundy region of France, later became an international pilgrimage site for young people who go there to pray and meditate. It draws some 100,000 people each...

TAIZE, France — Brother Roger, the 90-year-old founder of an ecumenical religious community dedicated to peace and reconciliation, was knifed to death by a woman at an evening prayer service attended by 2,500 people, authorities said. The slaying was deplored Wednesday by the pope and the head of the Anglican Church, who called the slain monk "one of the best-loved Christian leaders of our time." < Snip > A Romanian woman wielding a knife killed silver-haired Brother Roger, witnesses said. A community spokesman, Brother Emile, said the monk's throat was cut and he died 15 minutes later. < Snip >...

The Swiss-born founder of the Taizé ecumenical community, Brother Roger, has died after being attacked during a religious service. Police said a woman stabbed the 90-year-old cleric three times in the throat during the service at the Taizé community in eastern France. He died immediately. A 36-year-old Romanian woman was overpowered by worshippers and detained. Around 2,500 mainly young people were attending the service when the attack happened. Brother Roger was one of the leading ecumenical figures of the 20th century. A Protestant pastor from western Switzerland, he enjoyed great respect among religious leaders and Pope John Paul II visited...

Brother Roger, one of the 20th century's leading ecumenical figures, was stabbed to death by a woman during a service at the Taize community he founded in eastern France, local police said. Police said a woman stood up during a religious ceremony yesterday attended by about 2500 people and stabbed Brother Roger three times in the throat. The 90-year-old died immediately. A 36-year-old Romanian woman was overpowered by worshippers and detained, police said. Roger, a Protestant pastor from Switzerland, enjoyed great respect among religious leaders. Organisers of the Catholic Church's World Youth Day in Germany said they were shocked...