by Lorenzo Rossi
A number never seen before: 10,384 adults and beyond 7,400 teenagers They will receive baptism during the next Easter Vigil, on Saturday 19 April, throughout France. This was revealed by the investigation published on April 10 by Conference of the bishops of France (CEF) and reported in an in -depth article by the periodical The Croix. It is a fact that marks a 45% increase compared to 2024when 7,135 adults were baptized. It is the higher number ever recorded For over twenty years, since the national monitoring of catechumens has been started. A growth that is not the result of a precise strategy, underline the bishops, but rather the spontaneous expression of a return to faith, particularly evident among the youngest.
Young people guide growth
Among the most significant innovations, the strong presence of young adults between 18 and 25 years oldstudents and young workers, who represent 42% of adult catechumens. Only in the diocese of Saint-Denis this band even reaches the 66%. For the first time it exceeds the historic central band 26-40 years (39%), which until 2021 was twice the young people. Even among the teenagers between 11 and 17 years old there is a boom: over 7,400 the baptisms, two thirds of which girlswith an increase in 33% compared to last year. For the first time, high school students and middle school students are equivalent as numbers, while in 2023 the former were only 36%.
Not only baptism: confirmation also grows
The trend also concerns i Cresimandi adultslargely “start -up”, that is, people baptized by small who had abandoned religious practice. The 2025 figure will be made known after Pentecost (when the sacrament of confirmation usually received), but in 2024 they were already 9,400, More than double compared to 2022.
A transversal phenomenon
Growth concerns All social bands and all areas of the country: well 13 Diocese out of 98 they have more than doubled In one year the number of adult baptisms. THE adult catechumens I’m largely Women (63%), they live mainly in the city (75%)and as regards the social classes, they come in majority from the popular classes: workers, technicians and employees constitute 36% of the total. The university students I’m now 27%in clear growth. As for religious originsover half comes from Christian families, 6% from other religions (of which 4% from Muslim families), While 18% declare “without religion”where the data is available.
The challenge of accompaniment
In the face of these numbers, the commitment of the communities also grows in reception and accompaniment. I am 11,500 The accompanying personswith a 31% increase compared to last year. Mostly they are lay people (80%). “The accompaniment is increasingly structuring at the parish level, with particular attention to the fraternity as a key for a true integration in the Christian community”, he explains Catherine Chevaliernational manager for the announcement and accompaniment of Christian life.
A generation in search of meaning
What pushes many young people and teenagers to ask for baptism? Second Catherine Lemoinenational delegate to the pastoral care of teenagers, this growth responds to a thirst for interiorityal need to meet and references. “It is the age of the big existential questions,” he observes. And even if social networksTiktok on their heads, have a certain weight in the spread of testimonies and reflections on faith, in the letters sent to the bishopsyoung people speak first of all about a personal journeyoften started in childhood.
An important role also play it The strong momentssuch as retreats, community meetings and pilgrimages. Events that allow you to live A living experience of the Church and facilitate discernment.
Lourdes and Rome: founding experiences
Visible sign of this vitality will be the Frat of Lourdesscheduled from 12 to 17 April: they will participate 13,500 high school of $le-de-French, including many catechumens. It is a growing number of the 50% compared to two years ago. And for the summer another important appointment is already scheduled: from July 28th to August 3rd, catechumens and neophytes (ie Christians who have just baptized, “new seedlings”) will participate in the Jubilee of young people in Romewith a dedicated program that will allow them to Discover the universal face of the Church. A deep and unstoppable movement, which crosses France and mainly involves the youngest. A signal that questions, but also encourages a church that discovers that it is still capable of speak to the heart of the new generations.
