Pope Leo XIV urges France’s Catholics to reclaim a public voice amid deepening secularism

# What happened Pope Leo XIV made his first papal visit to France in nearly two decades, speaking at Lourdes and addressing bishops and the wider public. He used the trip to press French Catholics to reclaim a visible role in public life and to resist interpretations of laïcité that, he said, push Christianity out of civic conversation.

At Lourdes, the Pope described France's Catholic past as "immensely rich," noting how the Church once both witnessed and helped shape French history. He warned against a strict reading of laïcité and urged Catholics to remain vigilant in defending the Church's freedom to evangelize, to teach about freedom, and to worship publicly. He linked public worship and witness to tangible acts of charity carried out "in the name of Jesus Christ."

He also addressed contemporary ethical debates, specifically mentioning recent national discussions about assisted suicide. The Pope argued the Church holds a "prophetic authority" and that its voice remains necessary even when not widely followed. He encouraged Catholics who opposed changes in end-of-life law to persevere alongside others who uphold similar values.

# Context on Catholic practice in France A new report released around the visit documented a substantial decline in Catholicism in France since the mid-20th century. That collapse has been a recurring theme in analyses of the Church's role in modern French society. At the same time, the report highlighted signs of hope: catechumen baptisms this Easter rose to their highest level in 20 years, a development French bishops and clergy point to as evidence of pockets of revitalization.

# Reactions and on-the-ground moments

# Why this matters for France and the Church France's strict approach to secularism has steadily reduced institutional Church influence on public policy and civic rituals. The Pope's appeal repositions the Church as an active moral voice in debates that touch on human dignity and the foundations of civil society. By urging Catholics to speak and act publicly, the Pope aims to shift behavior at the parish and diocesan levels as much as to influence national debate.

# Takeaway for readers The visit highlighted a two-track reality: decades-long decline in mainstream Catholic practice combined with localized signs of revival. The Pope's call is tactical and pastoral—encouraging visible worship, public charity, and vocal engagement in ethical debates such as assisted suicide—rather than proposing specific legal strategies. For French Catholics and observers, the trip framed the next phase of Church life in France as renewed public engagement rather than quiet withdrawal.