Strong turnout expected from France at the Jubilee of Youth 2025 in Rome, with 25,000 young pilgrims—surpassing the Poles and hinting at a possible spiritual awakening.

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Some are speaking of a “spiritual awakening” in France.

Easy now. Too often we let ourselves get swept up in waves of enthusiasm, only to discover that sociological phenomena follow strange and contradictory paths.

Still, it must be acknowledged that some signs are indeed there—signs that were absent before—so there are grounds for hope that France, once known as the “eldest daughter of the Church” and later as the homeland of militant secularism, may be entering a new phase of spiritual renewal.

 

Jubilee of Youth: Surge in French Registrations

The latest sign comes from registrations for the upcoming Jubilee of Youth, which will bring one million pilgrims to Rome between July and August.

French youth have shown a remarkable level of interest: an estimated 25,000 are expected to attend the event, surpassing even the 20,000 young pilgrims expected from Poland, one of the world’s most Catholic countries.

Granted, one must also consider the geographical proximity of the two countries to Rome, but the figure remains striking nonetheless.

 

Numbers Rising in France, Including Catechumens

In recent times, there has also been a record turnout for the traditional pilgrimage march from Paris to Chartres, a growing number of students making pilgrimages to Lourdes, packed churches during Lent, and increasing demand for Bibles and spiritual retreats in monasteries.

Most notably, there has been a dramatic rise in adult baptisms: at Easter 2024 there were 7,135 adults baptized (+31% compared to 2023), and at Easter 2025 the figure rose to 10,384—an increase of +45% and +60% compared to the 3,900 baptisms recorded in 2015.

 

Another telling sign emerged just a few days ago with the publication of figures for the Peter’s Pence collection, the mechanism through which the faithful contribute to the Pope’s charitable work and to supporting the operations of the Holy See.

In France, donations skyrocketed from €1 million in 2023 to €8 million in 2024—an astonishing 700% increase! Some attribute the surge to the large number of Ukrainians welcomed by the French, but the magnitude of the growth suggests there’s more to the story.

 

Returning to the Jubilee of Youth: in Rome, French pilgrims won’t just be present in large numbers—they’ll also bring their own identity, complete with an official hymn titled “Génération Jubilé,” which will serve as the soundtrack to their community and witness.

Whether or not a religious awakening is truly underway in the land of Voltaire remains to be seen. For now, we welcome these signs and pray that France may soon break free from the disillusioned grip of secularism and rediscover its most radiant self.