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Catholic

World

France's Catholic influencers take faith from social media to real life

Catholic influencers gathered hundreds of young people for an evening of prayer at Paris's Saint-Sulpice church ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit, highlighting how social media is becoming a new tool for evangelisation. As youth baptisms rise in France, creators say their goal is to turn online engagement into real-life communities, while Church leaders warn that influencers themselves should not overshadow the faith they promote.

World

How do the French feel about religion?

Amid the enthusiasm over the first papal visit to France in 18 years, we take a deep dive into religion in France. We try to answer the question, "How do the French feel about religion?" From its Catholic heritage to laïcité, or secularism, we break down the statistics on the French people's relationship to faith.

World

Schism with rebel Catholic sect casts a pall over Pope Leo’s visit to France

The Vatican’s recent excommunication of followers of a Catholic splinter sect, the Society of Saint Pius X, has revived a longstanding feud within the Roman Catholic Church ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s state visit to France. The ultra-conservative group has established an extensive network of schools and has attracted thousands of followers in France.

World

From TikTok to church pews, France's Catholic influencers find a new flock

Brother Paul-Adrien preaches from a studio with gamer-like codes. Sister Albertine debunks convent clichés on Instagram. Father Benoît prays with followers on TikTok. As France sees a surge in teen and adult baptisms, a new generation of Catholic influencers is fuelling a quiet religious revival.

World

Why is France's Gen Z turning to Catholicism?

As France prepares for Pope Leo XIV's visit, a surprising trend has emerged in recent years: the number of baptisms among teenagers and young adults has skyrocketed. More than 21,000 catechumens, those undergoing the period of preparation for baptism into the Christian Church, have been recorded so far in 2026. How can this renewed interest in the Catholic faith be explained? Florence Gaillard reports for France in Focus.