Paris Archdiocese Launches Major Council Amid Historic Surge in Conversions

Archdiocese Responds to Unprecedented Growth

The Archdiocese of Paris is set to launch a significant churchwide council on January 25, 2026, coinciding with the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. This initiative comes in direct response to an unprecedented and sustained surge in adult and youth conversions to Catholicism across France. The council will involve a four-month consultation period, engaging all parishes and nine bishops, aiming to integrate and support the growing number of new faithful.

Record-Breaking Conversion Statistics

France has witnessed a historic increase in conversions, with the French Bishops' Conference reporting a record 17,800 catechumens baptized nationwide during the Easter Vigil on April 19, 2025. This figure includes 10,384 adults and over 7,400 young people aged 11 to 17. This represents a substantial 45% increase in adult catechumens from 2024 and a 33% rise in adolescent baptisms. The overall number of adult baptisms in France has more than doubled since 2015, marking a 160% increase over the past decade.

In the Archdiocese of Paris specifically, 2,652 adults were baptized on Easter 2025. A notable demographic shift indicates that the 18-25 age group now constitutes the largest segment of adult converts, representing 42% of adult catechumens.

Addressing Diverse Conversion Paths

The surge in conversions includes a significant number of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Estimates suggest that between 10% and 20% of those baptized at Easter in the Paris archdiocese are converts from Islam. To facilitate their integration, the Archdiocese of Paris established the pastoral service Ananie in 2020, led by Father Ramzi Saadé. This service is dedicated to directing new converts from Islam to suitable parishes and providing training for priests and the faithful on how to welcome them effectively.

Leadership and Future Outlook

The council was proposed by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, with Father Maximilien de La Martinière, a priest from the Diocese of Versailles, appointed as the secretary general responsible for its organization. Father de La Martinière noted that the timing of the council's launch on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul is symbolic, as St. Paul 'was an adult who, after his conversion, became a catechumen and then a zealous neophyte.' This widespread spiritual awakening is also reflected in climbing mass attendance, with many churches reporting standing-room-only congregations and a notable influx of young people.