When Pope Leo XIV addressed the leaders of international associations of the faithful and ecclesial movements gathered in Rome on 21–22 May, one sentence particularly resonated with me: “Associations of the faithful and ecclesial movements are an inestimable gift to the Church.”
As World Chaplain of ICCS, participating in this annual meeting (together with Antoine Moussally, our Chair) organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life was both a privilege and a reminder of something we can sometimes forget. ICCS is not simply a Catholic organization involved in Scouting. It is part of the rich and diverse communion of international associations of the faithful that contribute, each according to its own charism, to the life and mission of the Church.
Over two days, representatives of movements and associations from every continent reflected together on the theme of governance. At first glance, governance may seem a technical matter, concerning structures, statutes, responsibilities, and procedures. Yet the meeting highlighted a much deeper perspective. In the Church, governance is never merely administration. It is a form of service. It is the responsibility of helping a community remain faithful to its mission, fostering participation, discerning together, and creating the conditions in which people can grow.
This reflection has a particular relevance for Scouting. Leadership is one of the fundamental dimensions of the Scout method. We seek to educate young people not for power, but for service; not for privilege, but for responsibility. Listening to reflections on ecclesial governance, I was struck by how closely this vision echoes the educational intuition of Baden-Powell and the Gospel itself. Good leadership is not about controlling others; it is about helping others to flourish. Governance, in this sense, is not first about structures but about people, relationships, and mission.
Another striking aspect of the meeting was its international dimension. Leaders from different cultures, languages, and ecclesial experiences gathered around the same table, united by a common desire to serve the Church. This experience mirrors the reality of ICCS itself. Our mission unfolds across continents, cultures, and Scout traditions. Such diversity is not an obstacle to unity; it is one of its most beautiful expressions.
For ICCS, being present at this gathering is more than representation. It is a sign that Catholics in Scouting are fully part of the life of the Church while also belonging to the unique fraternity of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, where young people and adults from many religions and beliefs walk together. This double belonging — to the Church and to the Scout Movement — is both a gift and a responsibility. It calls us to contribute to the mission of the Church through the educational method of Scouting and, at the same time, to bring into the Scout Movement the values of dialogue, fraternity, service, and spiritual growth rooted in the Gospel.
In a world often marked by fragmentation and polarization, this experience was a powerful reminder that our vocation is to build bridges: between generations, between cultures, between religions, between the Church and the Scout Movement. This is not
only the mission of ICCS; it is also one of the most precious gifts that Catholic Scouting can offer to both the Church and the world today.