# Catholicism trends in France and Ireland

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/catholicism-trends-in-france-and-ireland
> Updated: 2026-09-19T03:50:51.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Catholicism is showing divergent demographic trends in France and Ireland. In Ireland, the religion has faced a nearly 30% decline in baptisms over the last decade, driven by secularization and falling birth rates. Data indicates that in the Republic of Ireland, the proportion of children aged 0 to 4 identifying as Roman Catholic fell from 78.3% in 2016 to 65.4% in 2022.

In contrast, France is experiencing a religious resurgence. The Vatican reported that approximately 13,000 adults have recently chosen baptism, which officials describe as a “conscious decision to embrace the Christian faith” rather than a continuation of tradition. Statistical data for France shows an increase in baptisms, confirmations, and Church marriages between 2020 and 2024.

This trend in France is expected to be a central theme during the upcoming apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV, scheduled for late September 2026, which includes meetings with newly baptized adults.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-19: Vatican reports rise in adult baptisms in France

The Vatican reports a rise in adult baptisms in France, with 13,000 adults recently joining the faith ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to the country.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vatican-reports-rise-in-adult-baptisms-in-france

### 2026-09-14: Catholicism sees divergent trends in France and Ireland

While France sees a surge in young people seeking Catholic baptism ahead of a papal visit, Ireland reports a nearly 30% decline in baptisms due to secularization and falling birth rates.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/catholicism-sees-divergent-trends-in-france-and-ireland

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Cite as: Catholicism trends in France and Ireland. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/catholicism-trends-in-france-and-ireland