‘An immense opportunity and honor’: New Catholics meet Pope Leo in Paris

Pope Leo XIV met with recent converts, catechumens, and members of the Archdiocese of Paris Synodal Assembly at the Catholic Institute of Paris on Sept. 26. The meeting occurred during a period of record adult baptisms in France.

After listening to testimonies from three newly baptized Catholics, the pope expressed gratitude for the number of adults seeking the sacraments of Christian initiation. He noted that the trend of people returning to the faith appears paradoxical within a deeply secularized French society, but described the experiences as a sign of God's grace that exceeds sociological analysis.

Father Maximilien de la Martinière, secretary general of the synodal assembly, said the unplanned visit provides visibility to the assembly's work, which intends to affect all dioceses in France. The assembly was organized by the Archdiocese of Paris to address the rise in adult and youth conversions across the country.