Polis - The city of Scout

The date of June 1, 2008 will definitely help the history of Italian Catholic Scouts and what dell'ASCI in particular. In fact until the early hours of the day left the churchyard of St. Peter's Basilica marked the beginning of a popular Cubs, Scouts, Guides, Rovers, and adults of MAS Scolte dell'ASCI the best they could come from everywhere representing their Groups and Regions of belonging.

A great excitement and expectation animated the great hope invaded peoples' minds to be able to greet the Holy Father in person and fill in the letter prepared by the Presidency Membership along with the awarding of the green handkerchief lilies of the Scout.

L'Osservatore Romano, June 2 - the official organ of the Holy See - in an article signed by Giampaolo Mattei on page 5 lists - in the news - that:

"They came in about 180 from Campania, Calabria, Puglia as well as from Rome to deliver to Benedict XVI the handkerchief of Promise Scout dell'ASCI, recognizing him as Head and historical context. With deep emotion Gianfranco Salzillo, President and Chief Scout of the ' Association of Italian Catholic scouting, says that being in Piazza San Pietro means reaffirming the first order action which marks the founding of this great reality: service to others.

The "educational" dell'ASCI is synthesized by four mottoes, each assigned to one age group: "I learn to do" (for children aged 6 to 8 years), "my best" (8-11 years); "to be prepared" (11-16 years), "to serve" (ages 16 and up).

"Dear Father, Brother Street - wrote Scouts dell'ASCI in a letter to the Pope - Friend of sincere young men who follow in your footsteps. Men who love nature because you know that it is the gym through which one sees and discovers the greatness of God the Creator. Brother in the understanding of human suffering that gives strength and courage to be true men of God Our prayers and our enthusiasm through every barrier and come to where the Lord reigns. Your road to the sign of our faith is a road on which you do not walk alone but, hand in hand with a great array of your "Knights in Christ."
You're all neighbors - the letter says - ready to give you every thought, every beat of our heart, and you, Holy Father, be sure that children, teenagers, young people and adults in our group sing praise to the Lord for have you chosen as a model to follow, as an apostle to be imitated, as his older brother to love.

To love and serve others - representatives dell'ASCI end is the end of our educational method that is expressed in a solemn promise in which the tissue that adorns our uniform is the symbol and the lasting memory. For this and what it expresses, in real communion with our Christian faith, we want donartelo as a sign of our devotion and our brotherly love. The emotion that shines in each of us, but especially on the face of these little scout around your white wings, are the most beautiful faces to greet the Holy Father! "

Dear brothers and sisters in Scouting believe that there is still much more to add except to say and not tell my forte, as intimate feeling of excitement and joy in seeing a dream materialize, as Secretary General of our ASCI, I really wanted and pursued. Chased after the formal request, through a continuous and even pounding, telephone contact with the Prefecture of the Pontifical House.

The Lord sees and knows everything that he wanted us all - Management Membership in particular - gioissimo along with many other leaders and youth who came from every where even shouldering enormous economic sacrifices and physical, in the grand final circle in front of the obelisk in the Piazza St. Peter, with whom we have concluded the historic day admiring Roman, albeit only in representation, the consistency of our association and, in this, comforted in the goodness of our actions, maybe slow, but constant and continuous, with a firm step and secure , proceeds along its path.

The resounding "crack" that resonated in the Piazza, echoing, he did stop the thousands of faithful in the distance were already in line to get into the basilica to look at it almost seemed to underline the truth of our beliefs.

Good road from your brother
Anthony Bosco