Pope Leo XIV engages with Norwegian Lutherans and French Catholic trends

Pope Leo XIV has engaged in significant diplomatic and religious activities involving both Nordic and French Catholic interests. On August 26, 2026, the Pope received a delegation of eleven bishops from the Church of Norway at the Vatican. While the Holy See uses the title ‘bishop’ for the delegation, it maintains that their orders are not sacramentally valid due to the interruption of apostolic succession during the Reformation in 1536-1537.

The audience, organized by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Nordic countries, Mgr Julio Murat, was part of a study trip focused on ecumenism and young adults. During the meeting, the Pope addressed global conflicts and rising social and political animosity, calling for unity.

In a separate development, the Pope is preparing for a visit to France, prompted by a notable resurgence in French Catholicism. Vatican officials have expressed interest in the country's missionary vigor, noting a significant wave of catechumens. Data from Easter 2026 showed that four out of five of the 21,000 adults and adolescents baptized were under the age of 40, highlighting a trend of religious engagement within a largely secularized society.