Urgell Diocese Pilgrims Return Inspired from Taizé Gathering in Paris

A delegation from the Urgell diocese, led by Bishop Josep-Lluís Serrano and including Encamp rector Mossèn Àlex Vargas, returned from the international ecumenical Taizé gathering in Paris deeply fulfilled. The group of 17 pilgrims, many of them young people from the diocese—which covers Andorra—arrived on 28 December carrying backpacks stuffed with winter clothes like gloves and scarves, but above all, open hearts.

They departed equally laden with donated items but enriched spiritually by the shared experience. Over 10,000 young Europeans gathered in the French capital for prayers, simple chants, and profound silences that fostered a sense of community amid a fast-paced world. Participants described daily routines starting with contemplative prayer, visits to landmarks such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, communal meals, and deep conversations hosted by welcoming Parisian families over five days.

Mossèn Vargas, who serves as the diocese's youth delegate as well as Encamp's rector, highlighted the event's appeal to those seeking deeper meaning. In a world overloaded with information and fleeting choices, he noted, many attendees arrived grappling with the question Jesus posed to his first disciples: "What are you looking for?" The gatherings emphasized listening, inner peace, and unity across languages and backgrounds.

The pilgrims returned inspired, with no material souvenirs but lasting impressions of lived faith. Attention now turns to organising a Taizé-style meeting within the diocese itself, starting in Bellcaire d'Urgell. While no formal plans exist yet, Mossèn Vargas confirmed Andorra's turn will come eventually as the events rotate through the bishopric.