A group of 8 young people from Magis France, accompanied by Manuel GRANDIN sj, were in Rome on September 30 and October 1 for the "Together - Gathering of the People of God" event organized by the Taizé brothers to entrust the Synod participants to the Holy Spirit.

Interested in the spirituality of Taizé or the prospect of living through a historic moment for the Church, these 8 young people had responded to the Pope's invitation to 18-35 year-olds from different European countries and all ecclesial origins, to spend a weekend sharing and journeying together as God's people, on the eve of the Synod.

Saturday was marked by three highlights. In the morning, workshops were held on the theme of "Christian Views of a Fragile World", with a focus on today's painful world and the Church. In particular, I took part in a workshop organized by JRS Rome, in which migrants gave us their view of Rome as a refugee city, and of their welcome in Europe. This was followed by a warm time of worship, punctuated by testimonies, at St. John Lateran, which brought together 4,000 people under the leadership of the Chemin Neuf community.

Finally, during a fraternal march, we all converged on St. Peter's Square for a time of prayer with the Pope and representatives of all the Churches, including, for example, a Swedish Anglican bishop and Orthodox popes from various patriarchates (Ukraine, Ethiopia, Iraq).

Led by the Taizé brothers, the gathering was also organized with the support of the Society of Jesus in Rome, notably Antoine KERHUEL sj, several Protestant and Catholic youth movements, and Sister Nathalie BECQUART, Xavière and Under-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. Because "the path of Christian unity and the path of the synodal conversion of the Church are linked", Francis brought together faithful from all the Churches in Rome. A powerful symbol. It was swollen and successful!

Manuel GRANDIN sj