From Friday to Monday, Pope Leo XIV will make his first visit to France, traveling from Paris to Metz via Lourdes. This pilgrimage is expected to draw attention from both religious and secular communities, as the Pope's presence often highlights important issues within the Catholic Church. During his trip, he will visit key religious sites, including Lourdes, a famous Marian pilgrimage site, and Metz, a city with a rich religious history. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in baptisms among young adults in France. According to La Tribune chrétienne, those aged 18 to 25 now account for more than 40% of new baptisms. This trend contrasts with the overall decline in the number of practicing Catholics in France. In 2011, 56% of the French population believed in God, but today that number has dropped to 41%, according to the Ifop polling institute. The Catholic population is also aging, and fewer young people attend Sunday Mass, particularly in the morning. Despite this, those who do convert are showing a higher level of religious engagement. The number of baptisms among young adults has grown significantly, with 21,000 adults and adolescents baptized at Easter in 2026—up from about 17,800 in 2025 and only 4,000 a decade ago, according to the Catholic Church in France. The 18-25 age group is now the largest among new converts. Father Lionel Dewavrin, a priest in the Lille diocese and a social media influencer with nearly 140,000 followers, notes that while there are fewer young people practicing religion than in the past, those who do convert are often more fervent in their faith. Father Dewavrin attributes this shift to a generational break in the transmission of faith. He explains that the 1970s saw a decline in the passing down of religious traditions from grandparents to children, leaving many young people today with little or no knowledge of the Catholic faith. Many of them first encounter religion through social media, where videos and testimonies from influencers play a significant role. In response, Father Dewavrin uses modern platforms to share his message, and organizations like KTO are even offering virtual Masses on YouTube to engage younger audiences.