From TikTok to church pews, France's Catholic influencers find a new flock

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to Paris has sparked massive interest, especially among young people eager to attend a prayer vigil at Stade de France, with tens of thousands of free places claimed within an hour of registration opening.
• Despite a decline in priest ordinations in France, adult and teenage baptisms have surged, partly due to Catholic influencers using social media platforms to engage youth with traditional religious messages in modern, relatable formats.
• Influencers like Brother Paul-Adrien, Sister Albertine, and Father Benoît Pouzin have gained large followings by blending faith with digital media, aiming to make religious life accessible and encouraging followers to connect with local church communities.
• The Catholic Church officially recognizes the role of digital missionaries but remains cautious about the potential for influencers to attract excessive attention or cause divisions, emphasizing humility and alignment with Church teachings.
• French Catholic influencers generally promote conservative views on social issues, with some connections to far-right figures, reflecting a broader trend of increased far-right support among practicing Catholics in France, though influencers maintain their focus on faith reinforcement rather than politics.