Welcome, Pope Francis I

The election of a new pope is a momentous event in the life of the Catholic Church. Troop 501, along with the rest of the world, joyously welcomes Pope Francis I, formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of Argentina, as the Church’s new spiritual leader. He is the first pope from the Americas, the “New World.” He is also the first Jesuit pope. 

While Troop 501 is not a Catholic troop, many of our members are Catholic, and we celebrate with them. And, though not all members of Troop 501 are Catholic, we do all share in our Duty to God. The Scout’s Duty to God is just as much a fundamental of the Scouting Movement, as is doing our Daily Good Turn. So much so, that Lord Baden-Powell sketched his interpretation of Saint George, the Patron Saint of Scouting, on many occasions, and instructed Scouts to “Follow Saint George.”

In 2007, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Scouting Movement, Greece issued a postage stamp featuring a Scout, mounted on his white steed, doing battle over evil, casting a shadow of Saint George.

Today, Troop 501 continues that tradition – The tradition of service. Of Duty: Duty to self, Duty to Others, and Duty to God.