Pope Leone XIV has publicly endorsed single-gender scouting, declaring that separate educational pathways for boys and girls allow youth to explore the "fundamental characteristics of being a woman and being a man" before engaging in mature relationships. The remarks, delivered to the Italian Catholic Scouts of Europe (UIGSE-FSE) at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, arrive just days after AGESCI—Italy's largest Catholic scouting organization—voted to allow LGBTQ+ adults to serve as leaders, setting up a stark ideological divide within Italian scouting.
Why This Matters
• Two major Catholic scouting bodies in Italy now operate under opposing philosophies on gender and inclusion.
• AGESCI's policy shift in May 2026 permits gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender adults to hold educational roles—ending decades of implicit exclusion.
• Pope Leone XIV's endorsement of the FSE's single-gender model signals Vatican support for traditional pedagogical approaches, potentially influencing parish-affiliated groups nationwide.
• The rift reflects broader tensions between Italy's Catholic institutions and the EU's new Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, adopted in March.
Competing Visions of Youth Development
Pope Leone XIV, elected in May 2025 as the first U.S.-born pontiff, praised the FSE method for its "pedagogical choice" to educate in distinct male and female sections, which he said dedicates "specific attention" to boys and girls. "Exploring in this way the fundamental traits of being a woman and being a man is a dynamic that prepares for authentic and conscious encounters with the other, which can favor reciprocal maturation," the Pope told assembled scout leaders.
The FSE model, known as "intereducazione" (parallel education), separates boys and girls for most activities but schedules structured interactions between the groups. Supporters argue this recognizes different developmental rhythms and allows adolescents to build confidence without gender-based stereotypes or social pressures. Pedagogical research from educational psychology suggests single-gender environments can boost confidence in STEM fields for girls and reduce stigma around arts and literature for boys, though comprehensive studies comparing outcomes across scouting models remain sparse.
By contrast, AGESCI's 160,000 members participate in fully coeducational units. The organization's General Council unanimously approved a groundbreaking document in May 2026 titled "Gender Identity and Sexual and Affective Orientation," stating that sexual orientation and gender identity cannot be grounds for exclusion from adult leadership positions. The three-year consultation process included listening sessions with LGBTQIA+ individuals, families, and local communities, concluding that the shift aligns with the scout method's "pedagogy of welcome."
Divided Reception and Legal Context
The AGESCI resolution drew immediate praise from Arcigay, Italy's leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group, which called it "the end of a long period of discrimination" and an important signal for the country. Yet Pro Vita e Famiglia, a conservative Catholic lobby, condemned the move as a "betrayal" of families seeking faith-based formation, warning against the infiltration of "gender ideology" into Catholic youth programs.
Italy's legal landscape adds complexity. The Italian Constitution and Law 45/2018 guarantee equal access to public services regardless of sex, though private associations retain autonomy in setting membership criteria. The European Commission's Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, adopted in March, aims to eliminate gender stereotypes in education and calls for balanced participation in all sectors—targets that could take 50 years to achieve at current rates, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality.
Meanwhile, Pope Leone XIV's intervention echoes his recent encyclical Magnifica humanitas, released in May 2026, which addressed moral guidance for artificial intelligence but also reaffirmed the Church's anthropological view of complementary male-female identity. His comments on scouting appear calculated to reinforce doctrinal consistency amid rapid cultural shifts.
What This Means for Italian Families
Parents enrolling children in Catholic scouting must now choose between organizations with fundamentally different philosophies on gender and identity. Families prioritizing traditional single-gender education will find alignment with the FSE's roughly 30,000 members, while those seeking inclusive coeducation can turn to AGESCI, which dominates numerically and operates in most dioceses.
The split also affects parish priests and bishops, who often sponsor local scout groups. Vatican endorsement of the FSE model may pressure diocesan officials to favor traditional groups over AGESCI chapters, especially in conservative regions like Veneto and Lombardy. Some dioceses could face pressure to host both models, straining volunteer resources.
For LGBTQ+ youth and parents, AGESCI's policy represents a tangible shift in institutional acceptance within Catholic civil society. Adults who previously hid their identities to volunteer can now serve openly, though the policy does not explicitly address transgender youth participation—a question that remains unresolved.
European Scouting's Broader Trajectory
Italy's internal divide mirrors wider debates across European scouting. The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and its European region promote gender equality through initiatives like "Scouts for Gender Equality," while the Scouts of the United Kingdom maintain explicit policies welcoming transgender members and offering guidance on pronoun use, uniform adjustments, and facility access.
The CNGEI, Italy's secular scouting body with 35,000 members, has operated an LGBTIQ+ working group since 2016 and participates in the Overture Diversity Network, an informal European coalition focused on inclusion. By contrast, the FSE—present in 18 countries—remains anchored in Christian anthropology and the principle that sexual difference is foundational to pedagogy.
Studies on single-gender education yield mixed results: some research shows girls in all-female environments report higher confidence in math and reduced stereotype threat, while boys may engage more freely with literature and arts. Other reviews find no consistent advantage over coeducation, suggesting that program quality and leadership matter more than gender composition. The scout context, with its emphasis on outdoor skills, service, and peer leadership, may amplify or diminish these effects depending on implementation.
Political and Cultural Implications
Pope Leone XIV's endorsement arrives as Italy debates national policies on gender recognition, family law, and education. The Meloni government, elected in 2022, has signaled skepticism toward EU-mandated gender quotas and resisted expanding legal protections for LGBTQ+ families. The Vatican's alignment with traditional scouting models may bolster conservative policy arguments ahead of 2027 municipal elections.
At the same time, the EU Gender Equality Strategy requires member states to combat gender stereotypes in education, reduce the 11.1% gender pay gap (the lowest on record), and address cyberviolence disproportionately affecting women. Italy's performance on gender equality metrics lags behind northern European peers, and cultural institutions like scouting play a measurable role in shaping youth attitudes toward gender roles.
The pontiff framed his remarks around the goal of forming "good Christians and good citizens," a phrase echoing the founder of scouting, Robert Baden-Powell, but adapted to emphasize moral formation. Whether AGESCI's inclusive model or the FSE's parallel approach better serves that goal remains an open question—and one that Italian families, educators, and policymakers will continue debating for years to come.
