Pope Leo XIV meets catechumens and neophytes in Paris

Pope Leo XIV met with catechumens, neophytes, and members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly at the Catholic Institute of Paris on September 26, 2026. During the meeting, the Pope encouraged the Church in France to support those seeking faith and help them integrate into the life of the community.

The Pope's visit follows a decade in which France has seen the highest number of conversions and adult baptisms. He urged the Church to recognize these increases as a sign of the Holy Spirit's activity rather than a reason for complacency. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris welcomed the Pope and presented him with the "Instrumentum Laboris," a working document from the Provincial Synodal Assembly.

During the gathering at the Georges Bernanos hall, a catechumen named Jaoide shared his journey toward baptism. The Pope expressed his gratitude for the synodal process and the document provided by the assembly, which he described as a result of mutual listening among the People of God.