Spiritual experience, influencers, thirst for God... Our exclusive survey on the catechumens of 2025
A record 17,800 people, mostly former atheists and Muslims, will be baptised in the Catholic Church in France this year. 73% are aged between 17 and 35, according to a survey by Famille Chrétienne. Most come from non-religious families. Social media, priests and personal relationships played a key role in their conversion. In the diocese of Meaux alone, 660 people will be baptised at Easter.
Before entering the catechumenate, 59% of catechumens had already read the Bible, occasionally for 42% of them and regularly for 17%. Another major piece of information from our survey: 83% of catechumens went to Mass even before starting their baptism request process. While 45% rarely attended, 38% attended regularly. Jean, before entering the military high school, had never been there. "Some friends invited me to do it," says the young man. This first Mass was a moment of revelation, of radical awareness of the existence of God, answering many questions. A month later, he already said he was a believer.
