Pope to Scouts and Guides: Let the Gospel be your ‘navigator’ in life

Vatican News

Addressing participants gathered for the 50th anniversary of the Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts of Europe Association on Monday, the Pope linked the jubilee celebration to the recent Solemnity of Pentecost, noting that the word Pentecost itself means “fiftieth.”

“May this happy anniversary be for you like a new Pentecost,” he said, praying that the Holy Spirit would descend upon every member as it did upon the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room.

The Pope recalled that the gift of the Holy Spirit enlivens the Christian life, opens hearts to mission, and enables believers to find ever-new ways of bearing witness to the beauty of the faith. The proclamation of salvation, he said, is filled with hope and inspires Christians to act rightly in every decision and undertaking.

A 50-year history

Reflecting on the Association’s fifty-year history, Pope Leo praised its educational mission, rooted in the scouting method developed by Lord Baden-Powell.

Through this approach, he said, young people are accompanied toward an encounter with Jesus Christ, whom he described as “Teacher of the good life, faithful Friend, and sure Guide on our journey.”

He highlighted outdoor life and contact with nature as essential dimensions of the scouting experience. These activities, he said, reveal God’s goodness through the signs left by the Creator in the natural world.

Unite the book of nature with the Word of God

At the same time, he urged scouts to unite “the book of nature” with the Word of God, drawing daily nourishment from Sacred Scripture.

Echoing the words of Pope Francis, he encouraged them to keep the Gospel close at hand as their “navigator,” opening it every day as “the true map of life.”

Addressing scout leaders in particular, Pope Leo reiterated that the Gospel is more than a book: it is the very person of Christ, the Good News for a humanity often confused and disappointed by the many challenges it faces. Christ, he said, satisfies humanity’s thirst for justice and truth and gives believers the courage to persevere in goodness and serve others generously.

Personal witness

The Pope underlined the importance of personal witness in the educational mission of scouting. The coherence of leaders’ lives and the maturity of their choices, he noted, offer young people a powerful example and help them grow in faith and character.

He also expressed appreciation for the role of priests serving as spiritual assistants to the Association, describing them as a guarantee of the bond between the Church and the scouting movement. Their ministry, he said, supports both the spiritual growth of young people and the educational mission of scout leaders.

Education and formation

Turning to the Association’s pedagogical approach, Pope Leo noted its commitment to educating boys and girls in separate sections, allowing particular attention to be given to the specific characteristics of each. Such formation, he said, can foster authentic and conscious encounters with others and promote mutual growth and maturity.

The Pope also commended the Association’s commitment to a cultural vision of Europe rooted in Christian humanism. In today’s complex historical context, he said, it is important to work for “a Europe of peoples, not only of business,” united by the highest values of the Christian tradition.

Service

At the heart of Baden-Powell’s educational vision, the Pope continued, lies service. To serve means placing one’s abilities and time at the disposal of others freely and without expecting anything in return.

Through service, he explained, young people learn solidarity, responsibility, concern for others, and a sense of social commitment.

When lived in faith, service frees people from self-centredness and indifference, opening them to community life and mutual care. Scouting, he said, helps participants discover how human life is illuminated and shaped by God, “the true educator of us all.”

Concluding his address, Pope Leo encouraged scouts and guides to continue their activities with joy and dedication. He prayed that the Holy Spirit would multiply His gifts among them so that they may spread the language of charity, welcome, and peace.