France Moving from Inherited to Chosen Christianity

More than 13,000 adults were baptized in France during Easter last year, marking a 28 percent increase compared to 2025. This figure represents more than triple the number of baptisms recorded in the country ten years ago.

During a visit to the Catholic University of Paris on September 26, Pope Leo XIV met with several newly baptized members and catechumens. Robin, a 24-year-old student baptized in 2023, told L'Osservatore Romano that the Church in France is transitioning from an inherited faith to one that is chosen. He noted that while post-World War II society attempted to build a culture indifferent to God, many young people today are seeking a relationship with God. Robin, who was raised in an Evangelical Protestant family, said he was drawn to the Catholic Church by its communal dimension of faith.