Our love have accompanied the Holy Father since his first apparition at the balcony… | Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe

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For European Guides and Scouts in the whole world, the election of the new Pope, Francis, 265^th successor of saint Peter, is a great joy.

As soon as we saw the white smoke, we welcomed him with a heart full of joy and gratitude. Our love and our prayers have accompanied the Holy Father since his first apparition at the balcony of Saint-Peter’s Basilica.

We are touched by the humility that he showed when he asked the crowd to pray for him and when he bowed down before the blessing.Also by his sense of tradition : immediately he suggested to pray for Benedict XVI and called him by phone just before appearing at the loggia. Then by his simplicity : this morning, the Pope refused to be transported in Mercedes, he preferred to take the minibus to the Basilica for the prayer with the cardinals…

Through these admirable acts, we find our scout virtues in our new Holy Father.
He shares his name with the protector of our youngest, about whom the Lord said “let little children come to me”. The name of Francis will obviously touch the hearts of all wolf cubs, brownies and ladybirds !

The simplicity that we observed last night cannot let boy scouts, girl guides, rovers, rangers and leaders indifferent… Scouting aims at a “simple life”.The service towards the poorest evoked by the TV presenters is also very touching, especially for the red branches… Not to mention saint Ignatius’ prayer, which is so important in our religious repertory and our “scout spirituality”.

Finally, let us not forget the figure of Venerable father Jacques Sevin, a Jesuit, to whom we owe the largest part of our spiritual legacy and whose centenary of priesthood we are going to celebrate next year, during our Eurojam.

European Guides and Scouts renew their loyalty and their guard not only to the Holy See, not only to the successor of Saint Peter apostle, but to Pope Francis I.

We invite you to ask all your units to pray for our new Pope. May they not hesitate to take part in the various ecclesial proposals made in parishes, dioceses, etc.

We rely on you, European Guides and Scouts !