Why are we seeing an explosion of new Catholics?

A Catholic Resurgence in France: Tradition as a Beacon Amid Multicultural Challenges

In a striking development, France is witnessing a record-breaking surge in conversions to Catholicism, with 17,800 catechumens—10,384 adults and over 7,400 young people aged 11 to 17—set to be baptised during the Easter Vigil on April 19, 2025. This represents a 48% increase in adult baptisms compared to 2024, marking the highest figures since the French Bishops’ Conference began tracking such data in 2002. Archbishop Olivier de Germay of Lyon describes this not as a fleeting trend but a “dynamic,” a “sign from Heaven” that points to a deeper spiritual reawakening. Simultaneously, across Europe, particularly in nations like France, Sweden, and Norway, young people are increasingly drawn to traditional Catholicism, a phenomenon that stands in stark contrast to the cultural and political currents of globalism and multiculturalism. This resurgence underscores the enduring appeal of Catholic tradition and raises questions about whether young Europeans are turning to the Church as a means of preserving national identity while embracing universal brotherhood, against the backdrop of multiculturalism’s troubled legacy.

The Pull of Tradition in a Secular Age

The Catholic Church’s traditional practices—its liturgy, sacraments, and moral teachings—are proving to be a powerful draw for a generation raised in a secularised, often disorienting world. In France, where secularism has long dominated public life, the beauty of the Mass, the silence of sacred spaces, and the coherence of Catholic doctrine are resonating deeply. Hubert Boüan, a catechumen coordinator in Versailles, notes that many young converts, often aged 20 to 30, are reconnecting with the faith of their grandparents, seeking to reclaim a heritage they feel was lost in their parents’ generation. Fifty-two percent of adult catechumens in 2025 come from families with a Christian background, reflecting a desire to rediscover roots that secular culture has eroded.

This return to tradition is not merely nostalgic. As Solène Tadié observes, young Europeans are attracted to Catholicism’s “triptych of transcendence, coherence, and exigency.” The Church offers a vision of the divine that elevates human experience, a logical moral framework that counters relativistic trends, and a demanding call to holiness that challenges the complacency of modern life. In France, the surge in baptisms among 18- to 25-year-olds—now 42% of adult catechumens—highlights this appeal, particularly among students and young professionals seeking meaning beyond material success. Traditional Catholicism, with its rich rituals and unchanging truths, provides an antidote to the fragmentation of postmodern culture.

Multiculturalism’s Failures and Catholicism’s Model of Unity

The resurgence of Catholicism occurs against a complex cultural backdrop. For decades, European governments have championed globalism and multiculturalism, promoting integration as a moral imperative. Yet, the reality on the ground often tells a different story: communities struggling with ghettoisation, rising violence, and a failure to reconcile diverse identities. In France, urban areas have seen tensions fuelled by cultural divides, with integration policies faltering under the weight of social fragmentation. This has left many, particularly young people, questioning the viability of multiculturalism as it has been practiced.

Catholicism, by contrast, offers a 2,000-year-old model of unity in diversity. The Church has long integrated varied cultures under a shared faith, respecting local traditions while uniting believers in a universal creed. From the incorporation of Greco-Roman philosophy in its early centuries to the adaptation of indigenous customs in mission territories, Catholicism has demonstrated an ability to harmonise differences without erasing them. Unlike state-driven multiculturalism, which often imposes a homogenised secular identity, the Church fosters a community where national and cultural distinctiveness coexist with a shared spiritual identity.

This model is particularly appealing in a Europe grappling with identity crises. Tadié notes that the presence of Islam has prompted some young Europeans to reexamine their Christian heritage, not out of rejection of others but as a way to ground their sense of self. In France, while 5% of new Catholics come from Muslim backgrounds, the majority are reconnecting with their Christian roots, suggesting a desire to preserve national culture without forsaking the universal call to brotherhood. Catholicism’s emphasis on all people as brothers and sisters in Christ offers a framework where cultural pride and human solidarity are not mutually exclusive.

Young People and the Search for Identity

Are young people turning to Catholicism as a response to multiculturalism’s failures? The evidence suggests a nuanced and even more profound answer. The Church’s growth among 18- to 24-year-olds, with baptisms rising by 28% in 2023 and over 30% in 2024, indicates a rejection of cultural narratives that leave them rootless. Many catechumens cite personal encounters with Christ—through liturgy, community, or even the memory of a grandparent’s faith—as their motivation. Yet, the broader context cannot be ignored. As secular ideologies struggle to provide meaning, and as multicultural policies strain under social realities, Catholicism’s promise of stability, beauty, and belonging grows more compelling.

In Versailles, Boüan reports weekly inquiries from young people, many from broken families, seeking to fill a void left by a fractured society. Across Europe, Tadié observes a “religious reawakening” in places once deemed secular strongholds, with traditional Catholicism gaining ground precisely because it offers what globalism cannot: a sense of place and purpose rooted in eternal truths. For young Europeans, the Church is not a retreat into isolationism but a way to affirm their heritage while embracing a faith that transcends borders.

A Sign of Hope and a Call to Action

The 17,800 new Catholics in France this Easter are a testament to the Church’s enduring vitality. Archbishop de Germay urges parishes to see this as a collective mission to make disciples, not merely to celebrate numbers. The challenge now is to nurture these converts, ensuring that their encounter with tradition deepens into lifelong faith. Initiatives like the FRAT gathering in Lourdes, which saw 13,500 young people register in 2025 compared to 9,000 in 2024, reflect the Church’s commitment to fostering community among the young.

In a world where multiculturalism has often led to division rather than unity, Catholicism’s model of integration—rooted in tradition and animated by love—offers a hopeful alternative. Young people, disillusioned by the “disaster” of failed policies, are not rejecting diversity but seeking a framework where it can flourish. By returning to the Church, they are rediscovering a faith that preserves national culture, honors human dignity, and unites all as brothers and sisters under Christ. This Easter, France’s record baptisms signal not just a revival but a reimagining of what it means to belong in a fragmented age.

I discuss these interesting developments with Katherine in this recent episode of Catholic Unscripted: