Young Catholics seek renewal during papal visit to France
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In Paris, France, numerous young Catholics from cities including Lille and Marseille gathered to greet Pope Léon XIV during his recent visit.
Many of these young people belong to Anuncio, a Christian evangelical movement focused on sharing their faith publicly. They convened in the capital both to witness what they considered a historic moment and to practice their core activity of street evangelism, adapting traditional games to spark conversations about faith.
The group aimed to meet people along the Pope’s route and express their hopes for France. Laure d’Haussy, the founder of the movement in Marseille, expressed a desire for the Pope’s message to “awaken France,” hoping it would improve the current social climate and encourage dialogue. Others, like Sophie and Grégoire, simply felt joy at the Pope’s presence and anticipated hearing his message of hope. Beyond simply seeing the Pope, the young Catholics prioritized hearing his message.
They planned to attend a youth vigil at the Stade de France and a public mass at Place de la Concorde. They actively engaged with people they met, discussing their faith and offering support, such as providing a concert ticket to a young man recently drawn to Catholicism after a sports injury. While acknowledging societal issues, the group largely focused on shared values and avoided contentious debates.
They celebrated the Pope’s arrival with song, with one member leading a crowd in singing a remixed hymn.
