In recent years, an encouraging trend has emerged in Catholic communities across the globe: more young people are returning to – or discovering for the first time – the richness of the Catholic faith.
A rising tide of youthful engagement is unmistakable, but the Church must act to support these young people in their faith and allow them to flourish as active members of the Catholic community.
The Times cited a report in 2024 that while Britons are more likely than ever to be non-believers, a “quiet revival” in Christian faith is taking place among congregations under the age of 25.
In 2018, just 4 per cent of young adults aged 18-24 reported that they attended church monthly. As of 2024, this has risen to 16 per cent, with young men increasing from 4 per cent to 21 per cent and young women increasing from 3 per cent to 12 per cent.
Every four years, the pope invites young people aged 18-35 to gather for an event called World Youth Day. In 2023, 1.5 million youths gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, for the final Mass, celebrated by the late Pope Francis.
As a newly qualified primary schoolteacher in my mid-20s, I am excited to be a part of this resurgence. As I write, I am preparing to travel with Bishop Fintan Gavin and 50 other young people from the Diocese of Cork and Ross to the Jubilee of Youth pilgrimage event in Rome, at the invitation of our new Pope, Leo XIV.
There is a great joy and vibrancy in attending such events. Furthermore, online Catholic influencers and digital missionaries are bridging faith and tradition with modern culture in dynamic, creative ways.
However, Catholic communities appear to be functioning like social media algorithms, rewarding only those who seek them.
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