Messages To Scouting From Pope John Paul II

The Vatican, 13th September 1998

To the International Conference for Catholic Scouting

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Conference for Catholic Scouting, it gives me great pleasure to join in thanksgiving with the men and women who have taken part in the Catholic scout movement since its inception and who have received the demanding spiritual and human training which assists them through their daily lives.

The fusion of scouting methodology and the intuitions of Fr. Sevin SJ resulted in the creation of a pedagogic system based upon evangelical values - a system in which each young person is helped to blossom and develop their own personality by bringing forth the talents of each individual. The scouting law, as it trains young people to follow the path of honour, draws them towards moral rectitude and the spirit of virtue thus guiding them towards God as it calls upon them to serve their brothers and sisters. Learning to do good, they become men and women capable of taking on their responsibilities within the Church and within society. In their patrols, on camp and in many other situations, scouts discover the Lord through the wonders of His creation which they so deeply respect. Theirs is also a wonderful experience of religious life as they get to know Christ through personal prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist. In addition, scouting unity offers young people the opportunity to learn about life in society through mutual respect.

The international scouting fraternity creates links between people of different cultures, languages and confessions and sets up the possibility of dialogue between them all. In this spirit, I applaud the work of the teams of leaders and those scout units who take the trouble to bring the ideals and pedagogic system of the scouting movement to the often disorientated young people from the inner cities and the industrial suburbs. This is truly fraternal work which contributes to the evangelisation of people who are often at a distance from the Christ and His Church as well as developing peace and co-operation among people in general. I applaud the attitude of those responsible for the young people within the movement who encourage encounters with other religious communities in an ecumenical spirit, educating through dialogue and instilling respect for one another. While never weakening the principles of catholic scouting, such approaches between young catholic scouts and young people from other religious persuasions allow Christ to be better know and more loved.

I also acknowledge scouting as an important maturing ground for vocations for young people who may wish to join the priesthood or become involved in religious life or whose calling may be to married life according to the teachings of the Church. It is within this educational framework that young people can find that fraternal support and essential guidance from their leaders and their companions to assist them in responding fully to the call of the Lord.

As the year 2000 approaches, I fervently hope that the scouting movement continues in its quest to discover the most radical ways of living out its evangelical activity, bearing witness in communion and harmonious co-operation. In this sense, it is important to accord special acknowledgement to the particularities of certain units within the various federations in a spirit of dialogue and understanding. It would also be of particular significance if the unity of the scouting movement, occasionally fragmented in the past, were to become complete during the Jubilee. Such unity would bear witness to fraternal love and reconciliation in the eyes of the whole world, thus allowing the disciples of the Lord to be known. (cf. 1 Jn 4, 7-9)

Calling on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Our Lady for all thus involved in the scouting movement, I fervently encourage the movement to carry on with and intensify the service it gives to the young people of the world both by offering them an ideal and proposing Christ as a model of perfectly accomplished human life and as the path towards goodness, because He is " the Way, the Truth and the Life " (Jn 14,6). To all the members of the International Conference for Catholic Scouting, with all my heart, I bestow the Apostolic Blessing.

October, 1990

Pope John Paul II spoke to Scouting's international officials in Oct. 1990. Parts of his address are included in the "Annex to the Catholic Scout Charter" approved by the Vatican in July 1992.

In line with the many instances in which my predecessors have praised the noble aims of your movement and its achievements on a world-wide scale since Lord Baden-Powell founded it just over 80 years ago, I assure you of my own personal appreciation of Scouting as a magnificent educational experience and form of social and religious commitment. I am happy to know that, today, over 16 million young people of all races, religions and cultures on every continent take part in Scouting. . . .

In . . . changing political and social circumstances . . . you are finding opportunities for a renewed presence of your organization in the countries of central and eastern Europe. You are also making notable progress in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, while Scouting continues to attract many young people in countries (where) it has been traditionally strong. I encourage you to continue to uphold the high ideals and challenging programs of personal development, friendship, brotherhood and service which make your movement so appealing to youth.

Scouting is above all an education. Members . . . experience it as a growth into personal maturity and social responsibility. They learn to assume their place in life with a high degree of commitment to the common good. They learn to care for the less fortunate. They develop a fervent desire to build a culture of goodwill; they learn openness and harmony in human relationships, respect for the environment, acceptance of duties, including the most fundamental of all duties, love of the Creator and obedience to his will.

Scouting is . . . capable of helping millions of young men and women to work for a civilization of "being", in contrast to the civilization of "having", which is producing . . . such alarming manifestations of selfishness, frustration and despair, and . . . violence as a way of life. The true value of your movement lies in transmitting a humanism expressed in right judgment, strength of character, refinement of spirit, and perseverance in the pursuit of truth and goodness.

The success of the Scouting method has much to do with the way young people are led to discover for themselves and live these qualities through activities suitable to their age. The spontaneous and open style of Scouting activities, within a framework of self discipline and a clear code of behaviour, makes these activities particularly attractive to the naturally enthusiastic and generous nature of youth.

Concern for the Christian values was an essential part of the original program . . . devised by Baden-Powell. It is precisely this openness to the religious dimension of life that gives body and direction to the human and ethical values the movement seeks to transmit. . . . It is true that the Church has a special interest in the well-being of Catholic Scouts and Guides . . . but I assure you that she holds the entire Scouting movement in high esteem and is confident that cooperation and exchange between all its
component organizations is an important part of (its) further strengthening and success. . . .

You . . . may well be proud of the great Scouting traditions of personal excellence and self-giving in the service of God and neighbour which you have inherited. I invoke God's blessings upon you as you strive to address the many questions facing your organization today and meet the challenges of maintaining the high ideals of Scouting.