Yet, within hours, the “backpack hero” was widely acclaimed on social media. His anonymity did not last long. It is now known that Henri d’Anselme, who holds a degree in philosophy and a master’s in international management, is also a pilgrim. Since March 27, he has been traveling across France, visiting cathedrals and sharing prayers on Instagram and Telegram. Upon arriving in Annecy, he was preparing to head toward the Abbey of Hautecombe, perched on the shores of nearby Lake Bourget. “When I acted in the square, what drove me was this greatness that nourishes me,” he told CNews, explaining that he aims to introduce as many people as possible to the beauty of France’s cathedrals.

"A Chivalrous Message"

Henri d’Anselme also spoke about his Catholic faith with modesty and sincerity. “Faith is something very mysterious because it is not something one can easily talk about,” he shared on BFM TV. “It is very intimate. It is not intellectual; it is a personal encounter with Christ. And I invite everyone to experience it because it is wonderful—it transforms lives! And above all, once you know you are loved by God and that He has saved your life, you can act without thinking too much about your own, to try to save the lives of children.”

When asked about the Christianity claimed by the attacker, the young man responded firmly: “It is profoundly un-Christian to attack innocent beings. (…) The entire Christian civilization upon which our country was built is precisely a chivalrous message—to defend the widow and the orphan. (…) On the contrary, something very dark inhabited him,” he added, subtly alluding to the idea of demonic possession—the same notion that led Father Jacques Hamel to utter, before his murderer in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray: “Begone, Satan!”

Currently a "Routier", the adult branch of the Association des Guides et Scouts d’Europe, Henri d’Anselme previously led the 3rd Port-Marly troop, a scout group affiliated with Saint-Louis Parish in Port-Marly, Yvelines, where he grew up. The church is served by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a traditionalist Catholic community.

Like countless other scouts and guides, Henri d’Anselme was immersed in an ideal passed down from generation to generation—the daily B.A. (bonne action, or "good deed"), the scout salute symbolizing that “the strongest protects the weakest”… He must have deeply reflected on the commandments of the Scout Law:

"A scout is made to serve and save his neighbor. A scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout. A scout is courteous and chivalrous. A scout sees in nature the work of God: he loves plants and animals. A scout obeys without question and does nothing by half measures…"

At the pinnacle of their scouting journey, Routiers must undertake a "long trek": a rite of passage designed to push their limits, leading them to self-discovery, reliance on God, and connection with others. Had Henri d’Anselme already completed his long trek, or was his pilgrimage from cathedral to cathedral part of it? Until he answers, one thing is clear: walking—through prayer and meditation—is at the heart of his life.

There is no scouting without service, even at the risk of one's life. Scouts are familiar with "Les excuses de l’aspirant", a poignant song inspired by the fate of Albert Hatswell, a 12-year-old Londoner killed on Easter Monday in 1914 while stopping a runaway horse. One verse echoes with particular resonance:

"Don’t call me a martyr!
I was just looking for a chance
To do my Good Deed,
And I did it."

In the coming days, many scouts will likely think of Henri d’Anselme as they hum these words.

A Rare but Universal Heroism

The young man, who in 2021 expressed on Radio Courtoisie his admiration for royalist writer Jean Raspail, may not be to everyone’s liking as his convictions become known. But scouting draws from the passion of youth, and no matter what, the pilgrim of Annecy has embodied the true spirit of scouting—a spirit sometimes mocked, sometimes dismissed as merely a matter of social background.

Acts of heroism like his are rare, yet they carry something deeply universal. In recent years, tragedies and attacks in France have time and again revealed individuals willing to risk their lives for others. Like Franck Terrier, who chased down the truck that plowed into crowds in Nice on July 14, 2016. Like Lassana Bathily, the Malian employee at the Hyper Cacher in Vincennes, who saved multiple hostages during the January 9, 2015 attack. Like Yoav Hattab, the 21-year-old rabbi’s son, who was killed trying to seize the terrorist’s weapon in that same attack.

Shortly after Colonel Arnaud Beltrame’s death, a gendarme friend of the author of this piece sent him a message:
"I hope that the sacrifice of this Catholic officer—so perfectly embodying the heroic ideal we were raised with—does not make us forget the universality of the spirit of sacrifice and the diversity of the men and women who have given or will one day give their lives to protect or save others."

In Annecy, Henri d’Anselme was not alone in stepping forward. But by becoming the symbol of the just man standing against an attacker, he has honored what is perhaps the most profoundly human aspect of the scout’s oath:

Helping others, in all circumstances.