Pope addresses surprising Catholic growth in secular France

Pope Leo XIV met with new and prospective Catholics and their leaders at the Catholic Institute of Paris on September 26 to discuss the growth of the Church in France. The pope told the group that the Church should strike a balance between welcoming new members and educating them on the tenets of the faith. He noted that this growth is paradoxical because French society is deeply secularized.

Data from France's national demographic institute shows that more than half of French adults have no religious affiliation. While 29 percent of the population identifies as Catholic, only 8 percent report attending Church regularly. Despite these figures, the Church has seen record-breaking baptism numbers. In 2026, France recorded more than 20,000 baptisms among adults and adolescents, a 20 percent increase from 2025.

The pope suggested that people join the Church for various reasons, including personal hardship or a search for meaning. He stated that the Church must help newcomers embrace the demands of Christian life. During the visit, Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris welcomed more than 350 people from eight dioceses. The group is scheduled to hold three sessions for the new Provincial Ecclesial Assembly of Île-de-France beginning in mid-October.