Adult Catholic baptisms see an all-time high in France

In a dramatic reversal, French Catholic baptisms of adults doubled during the past two years and will hit a projected 10,384 on Easter evening this year, between April 19 and 20.

- Roshan Bourget

In a dramatic reversal, French Catholic baptisms of adults doubled during the past two years and will hit a projected 10,384 on Easter evening this year, between April 19 and 20. This upticked surge, as reported by the French Bishops' Conference on April 10, follows 5,423 adult baptisms in 2023 and 7,135 adult baptisms in 2024.

The surge is largely due to a boom in teenage baptisms, with a record 17,788 teens and adults asking to be baptized this year in the Catholic Church.