On June 20, 2025, Pope Leo XIV officially recognized a large group of French priests and laymen who were persecuted by the Nazi regime.
Many French men were sent to the German front through a Compulsory Work Service. In response to this order, various French priests, religious, and laymen followed these workers into German territory. However, because they were caring for the physical and spiritual needs of these workers, they were arrested, tortured and put to death mainly in concentration camps.
Included in this number of martyrs are 14 men who were part of the Scouts de France movement.
Catholic scouting
Inspired by Baden-Powell and the "Boy Scout" movement that began in England, French priest Venerable Jacques Sevin began Catholic scouting in France.
He had been following Baden-Powell’s progress and was intrigued by the idea of scouting. Sevin decided he needed to go to the source and asked permission to travel to England to experience it for himself.
Sevin was allowed during the summer to observe the recently formed scouting troops and personally met Baden-Powell at a camp in 1913. This renewed Sevin’s interest in the movement and he returned to France thinking of different ways to incorporate the Catholic faith into scouting.
Sevin then went on to co-found the Fédération des Scouts de France in 1920 and later became known as the “Father of Catholic Scouting” for his innovative ideas. He died in 1951 while clutching a crucifix in his hand and saying to those around him, “Be saints, all of you! Nothing else counts.”
The 14 men who were declared martyrs by Pope Leo XIV were part of this same scouting movement in France.
They all professed an Oath and Law that included the following (which may sound similar to the Boy Scout Oath and Law):
On my honor and with the grace of God, I promise to do my best to serve God, the Church and my country, to help my neighbor in any circumstance and to observe the Scout Law.
The Scout must strive to be trustworthy.
The Scout is loyal to his country, his parents, his leaders and his subordinates.
The Scout must serve and save his neighbor.
The Scout is polite and chivalrous.
The Scout must be pure in his thoughts, words and actions.
These scouts truly lived-up to their Oath and Law, and are great examples to any modern-day scouts.
As a note, in the United States the Federation of North American Explorers is a new group of scouts who are similarly inspired by Venerable Sevin and ultimately have their roots in the Scouts de France movement.
