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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Bishops Journey to France

Pope Leo XIV addresses new Catholics at Institut Catholique de Paris

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV told the Church in France to fully integrate and accompany new believers to avoid a spiritual void after baptism. Speaking at the Institut Catholique de Paris on Sept. 26, the pope addressed catechumens, newly baptized Catholics, and members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly of Île-de-France. He urged the Church to find a balance between welcoming newcomers and educating them in the faith.

The pope described the rising number of adults seeking the sacraments as a sign of God's unpredictable work, rather than a reason for pessimism. This growth occurs despite a secularized culture where more than half of French adults report no religious affiliation. In 2026, France recorded more than 20,000 baptisms of adults and adolescents, a 20% increase from 2025.

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris welcomed the group, noting that more than 350 people from eight dioceses and the Military Ordinariate gathered for the synodal discussion. The Provincial Ecclesial Assembly of Île-de-France is scheduled to hold three sessions beginning in mid-October at the university.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 1:01 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 12:46 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  3. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  4. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  5. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  7. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  8. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  9. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  10. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  11. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:47 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit France
  23. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  24. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  25. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Tuesday 29 September

Pope Leo XIV addresses catechumens at Catholic Institute of Paris

Earlier version, Monday 28 September

Pope Leo XIV addresses 350 catechumens and neophytes at Institut Catholique de Paris

Earlier version, Sunday 27 September

Pope Leo XIV meets new Catholics at Catholic Institute of Paris

Earlier version, Sunday 27 September

Pope Leo XIV addresses new Catholics in Paris

Earlier version, Sunday 27 September

Pope Leo XIV meets new Catholics at Paris Institute

Earlier version, Saturday 26 September

Pope Leo XIV meets with catechumens and neophytes at the Institut Catholique de Paris

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Sep 26, 2:07 AM La Croix Français Léon XIV en France : le discours du pape à l’Institut catholique de Paris
  2. Sep 26, 4:26 AM ACI Prensa Español Discurso del Papa León XIV en el Institut Catholique de Paris
  3. Sep 26, 4:03 AM Vatican News Română Leon XIV la Institutul Catolic din Paris: Biserica să fie într-o inițiere continuă
  4. Sep 26, 4:43 AM Alfa y Omega Español El Papa pide en el Instituto Católico de París evitar el «vacío» después del bautismo
  5. Sep 26, 6:34 AM Catholic News Agency Pope addresses ‘surprising’ Catholic growth in secular France
  6. Sep 26, 6:51 AM National Catholic Register Pope Addresses ‘Surprising’ Catholic Growth in Secular France
  7. Sep 26, 8:19 AM National Catholic Reporter Drawing huge crowds in Paris, Pope Leo urges France to embrace its Catholic heritage
  8. Sep 26, 12:53 AM ACI Digital Português Papa aborda o crescimento do catolicismo na França secular
  9. Sep 26, 7:09 PM Catholic World News Christ is encountered and loved in the needy, Pope says in Paris (CWN)
  10. Sep 26, 2:05 AM Vatican News Polski Leon XIV we Francji: nowi wierzący przeczą „jałowemu pesymizmowi”
  11. Sep 26, 11:15 AM Deon Polski Leon XIV o neofitach we Francji: przeczą „jałowemu pesymizmowi” zsekularyzowanego świata
  12. Sep 26, 3:24 AM Aleteia Pope speaks on surprising number of new French Catholics
  13. Sep 26, 1:49 AM Diocese of Angoulême Français Retrouvez les principaux discours, les interventions et les célébrations avec le Pape Léon XVI en France

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 1:01 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 12:46 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  3. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  4. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  5. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  7. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  8. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  9. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  10. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  11. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:47 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit France
  23. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  24. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  25. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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