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FRANCE
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country primarily located in Western Europe. Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic in North America, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Christianity is the largest religion in France, with about 50% of the population identifying as Christian as of 2021. While the country has deep historical roots in Roman Catholicism, it is also defined by a strong tradition of state secularism, or laïcité. Catholicism is still the dominant denomination, identifying roughly 47% of the population. However, active practice is low; only about 8% to 10% of Catholics attend Mass regularly. Protestantism makes up about 3% of the population. It is currently the fastest-growing Christian group, primarily due to a surge in Evangelical churches. A new evangelical church is planted approximately every 10 days. Evangelicals now represent about 1.6% of the population and account for three-quarters of practicing Protestants. Orthodoxy comprises about 1% of the population, often associated with Greek, Russian, and Eastern European communities. France was historically known by this title (fille aînée de l'Église) due to its long and close association with the papacy, beginning with the baptism of King Clovis I in 496. The 16th century was marked by brutal conflict between Catholics and Protestant Huguenots, including the 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Codified in the 1905 Law on the Separation of Church and State, this principle ensures state neutrality and the absence of religious influence in government and public schools.
French President affirms support for Christians in the Holy Land, condemns prevention of Palm Sunday Mass at Church of Holy Sepulchre
French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his full support for the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem and for Christians in the Holy Land, who were prevented from holding Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Macron condemned the decision issued by the occupation police, considering it part of an alarming increase in violations targeting the historical status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.He stressed that freedom to practice religious rituals in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions.
(WAFA News Agency; 3.29.26)READMORE>>>>>>
French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his full support for the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem and for Christians in the Holy Land, who were prevented from holding Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Macron condemned the decision issued by the occupation police, considering it part of an alarming increase in violations targeting the historical status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.He stressed that freedom to practice religious rituals in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions.
(WAFA News Agency; 3.29.26)READMORE>>>>>>
France set to see record number of baptisms on Holy Saturday
It’s set to be a life-changing Easter weekend for a record number of Catholics who are giving their life to Jesus. Dioceses across England recently reported the highest numbers of adults preparing to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter vigil on Holy Saturday for at least 15 years. New figures show that the trend is also being borne out in France, with over 21,000 people set to be baptised this year, an increase of 20% on 2025 when 17,000 people gave their life to Christ. Around 8,000 of those being baptised this year are young people. A decade ago, only around 4,000 were baptised in France.
(Premier Christianity; 4.2.26)READMORE>>>>>>
It’s set to be a life-changing Easter weekend for a record number of Catholics who are giving their life to Jesus. Dioceses across England recently reported the highest numbers of adults preparing to be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter vigil on Holy Saturday for at least 15 years. New figures show that the trend is also being borne out in France, with over 21,000 people set to be baptised this year, an increase of 20% on 2025 when 17,000 people gave their life to Christ. Around 8,000 of those being baptised this year are young people. A decade ago, only around 4,000 were baptised in France.
(Premier Christianity; 4.2.26)READMORE>>>>>>
‘Devoid of God’
Southern France is, in a sense, paradise. The region includes the French Riviera, a global epicenter of leisure and wealth. Think Cannes, home of the world-renowned film festival. Think Monaco, where the Formula One Grand Prix winds through city streets. To the north rise the majestic Alps; to the south sits the Mediterranean Sea.What more could anyone want? But beneath its gilded veneer, a quiet absence exists among those sitting in this lap of luxury, says Patrick, an International Mission Board missionary who has been serving in Southern France since 2024 after spending more than a decade planting a church in New York City. (Southern Baptist Texan; 3.30.26)READMORE>>>>>>
Southern France is, in a sense, paradise. The region includes the French Riviera, a global epicenter of leisure and wealth. Think Cannes, home of the world-renowned film festival. Think Monaco, where the Formula One Grand Prix winds through city streets. To the north rise the majestic Alps; to the south sits the Mediterranean Sea.What more could anyone want? But beneath its gilded veneer, a quiet absence exists among those sitting in this lap of luxury, says Patrick, an International Mission Board missionary who has been serving in Southern France since 2024 after spending more than a decade planting a church in New York City. (Southern Baptist Texan; 3.30.26)READMORE>>>>>>
As Antisemitism Rises, Members of Abrahamic Religions Fight Back
For years, French politician Shannon Seban has encountered antisemitism from both the far left and the far right—an experience she said reflects a broader and growing trend. Seban’s troubles began in July 2023 when she was about three years into her term as a city council member in a suburb of Paris. A neo-Nazi activist posted antisemitic comments on his website. “He targeted my Jewish nose, and he made some caricature that was crazy,” Seban told Christianity Today. Seban’s lawyer filed a complaint about the hate speech with the local court, but the man avoided prosecution after reportedly fleeing to Japan. The attacks against her intensified after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Seban campaigned for a seat in the French parliament, running against a far-left candidate from a party she described as “deeply antisemitic.”
(Christianity Today; 3.27.26)READMORE>>>>>>
For years, French politician Shannon Seban has encountered antisemitism from both the far left and the far right—an experience she said reflects a broader and growing trend. Seban’s troubles began in July 2023 when she was about three years into her term as a city council member in a suburb of Paris. A neo-Nazi activist posted antisemitic comments on his website. “He targeted my Jewish nose, and he made some caricature that was crazy,” Seban told Christianity Today. Seban’s lawyer filed a complaint about the hate speech with the local court, but the man avoided prosecution after reportedly fleeing to Japan. The attacks against her intensified after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Seban campaigned for a seat in the French parliament, running against a far-left candidate from a party she described as “deeply antisemitic.”
(Christianity Today; 3.27.26)READMORE>>>>>>
The Only Revolution Left: Monarchy and God Again (MAGA)
Republic is now widely understood, even in the halls of power, to be on the verge of collapse, as President Macron was forced to appoint a sixth prime minister in the space of two years earlier this month. The country is suffering from political instability, fragmenting social cohesion, economic malaise, and deeper spiritual decay, with few voices in public willing to acknowledge their Christian heritage. In this moment of national crisis, Louis de Bourbon, the current living head of France’s House of Bourbon, has offered himself in service. “The situation has never been so serious; the Fifth Republic is on the verge of collapse. My family has served France for centuries, and if France calls upon me, I will be at its service. The indispensable condition is that France desires the return of the monarchy—a monarchy above parties, unifying.” One of the greatest errors of modern Western culture is its misconstruing of the monarchy—both the monarchs themselves and the institution. Louis de Bourbon’s words, and the grounds on which he stakes his offer, are a testament to the virtue of his position—even though centuries have passed since his ancestors (who include the guillotined King Louis XVI) were removed from royal office, he feels an overwhelming attachment to his people and to his lineage—to a culture of duty. This instinct of service oriented towards unity is a bold contrast with the French Republic’s factionalism and short-sightedness.
(European Conservative 10/26/25) READMORE>>>>
Republic is now widely understood, even in the halls of power, to be on the verge of collapse, as President Macron was forced to appoint a sixth prime minister in the space of two years earlier this month. The country is suffering from political instability, fragmenting social cohesion, economic malaise, and deeper spiritual decay, with few voices in public willing to acknowledge their Christian heritage. In this moment of national crisis, Louis de Bourbon, the current living head of France’s House of Bourbon, has offered himself in service. “The situation has never been so serious; the Fifth Republic is on the verge of collapse. My family has served France for centuries, and if France calls upon me, I will be at its service. The indispensable condition is that France desires the return of the monarchy—a monarchy above parties, unifying.” One of the greatest errors of modern Western culture is its misconstruing of the monarchy—both the monarchs themselves and the institution. Louis de Bourbon’s words, and the grounds on which he stakes his offer, are a testament to the virtue of his position—even though centuries have passed since his ancestors (who include the guillotined King Louis XVI) were removed from royal office, he feels an overwhelming attachment to his people and to his lineage—to a culture of duty. This instinct of service oriented towards unity is a bold contrast with the French Republic’s factionalism and short-sightedness.
(European Conservative 10/26/25) READMORE>>>>
French President affirms support for Christians in the Holy Land, condemns prevention of Palm Sunday Mass at Church of Holy Sepulchre
French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his full support for the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem and for Christians in the Holy Land, who were prevented from holding Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Macron condemned the decision issued by the occupation police, considering it part of an alarming increase in violations targeting the historical status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.He stressed that freedom to practice religious rituals in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions.
(WAFA News Agency; 3.29.26)READMORE>>>>>>
French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his full support for the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem and for Christians in the Holy Land, who were prevented from holding Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Macron condemned the decision issued by the occupation police, considering it part of an alarming increase in violations targeting the historical status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.He stressed that freedom to practice religious rituals in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions.
(WAFA News Agency; 3.29.26)READMORE>>>>>>
‘American Evangelicalism is in the news, and Europeans think we are all the same. Now, let’s be gracious but bold as Christ’s ambassadors’
A programme on public television channel France 2 that questioned the actions and doctrine of evangelicals in the country has caused much controversy in France. The day before, on 25 September, another French news channel, France24, broadcast (this time in English) another report on evangelicals and their growing influence. “The evangelical Christian lobby has been winning the hearts and minds of ordinary people with success in one particular demographic: disaffected young white men”, said the report, which can be viewed on France24 English's YouTube channel. “They have been recruited en masse by influencers and podcasters like the late Charlie Kirk, credited with turning a new generation towards Christian nationalism”.
(Evangelical Focus 10/2/25) READMORE>>>>
A programme on public television channel France 2 that questioned the actions and doctrine of evangelicals in the country has caused much controversy in France. The day before, on 25 September, another French news channel, France24, broadcast (this time in English) another report on evangelicals and their growing influence. “The evangelical Christian lobby has been winning the hearts and minds of ordinary people with success in one particular demographic: disaffected young white men”, said the report, which can be viewed on France24 English's YouTube channel. “They have been recruited en masse by influencers and podcasters like the late Charlie Kirk, credited with turning a new generation towards Christian nationalism”.
(Evangelical Focus 10/2/25) READMORE>>>>
Evangelicalism in France continues to grow, driven by conversions
Members of evangelical churches, a branch of Protestantism, are increasing. These believers say they are drawn by a more informal liturgy and the emphasis on community. The scene could easily be mistaken for a concert hall. On stage, a band pauses, each member behind their instrument – drums, guitar, and a microphone for Grace, the young singer with her curly hair pinned up, wearing a smart blazer over fitted trousers. The lyrics are projected onto a screen so the congregation can follow and sing along, hands raised toward the sky. But on this Sunday morning in April in an evangelical church in Pontault-Combault, a suburb east of Paris, the attention was not on the musicians, but on an unusual structure to the right of the stage: two large wooden vats. (Lemonde 8/31/25) READMORE>>>>>
Members of evangelical churches, a branch of Protestantism, are increasing. These believers say they are drawn by a more informal liturgy and the emphasis on community. The scene could easily be mistaken for a concert hall. On stage, a band pauses, each member behind their instrument – drums, guitar, and a microphone for Grace, the young singer with her curly hair pinned up, wearing a smart blazer over fitted trousers. The lyrics are projected onto a screen so the congregation can follow and sing along, hands raised toward the sky. But on this Sunday morning in April in an evangelical church in Pontault-Combault, a suburb east of Paris, the attention was not on the musicians, but on an unusual structure to the right of the stage: two large wooden vats. (Lemonde 8/31/25) READMORE>>>>>
As Antisemitism Rises, Members of Abrahamic Religions Fight Back
For years, French politician Shannon Seban has encountered antisemitism from both the far left and the far right—an experience she said reflects a broader and growing trend. Seban’s troubles began in July 2023 when she was about three years into her term as a city council member in a suburb of Paris. A neo-Nazi activist posted antisemitic comments on his website. “He targeted my Jewish nose, and he made some caricature that was crazy,” Seban told Christianity Today. Seban’s lawyer filed a complaint about the hate speech with the local court, but the man avoided prosecution after reportedly fleeing to Japan. The attacks against her intensified after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Seban campaigned for a seat in the French parliament, running against a far-left candidate from a party she described as “deeply antisemitic.”
(Christianity Today; 3.27.26)READMORE>>>>>>
For years, French politician Shannon Seban has encountered antisemitism from both the far left and the far right—an experience she said reflects a broader and growing trend. Seban’s troubles began in July 2023 when she was about three years into her term as a city council member in a suburb of Paris. A neo-Nazi activist posted antisemitic comments on his website. “He targeted my Jewish nose, and he made some caricature that was crazy,” Seban told Christianity Today. Seban’s lawyer filed a complaint about the hate speech with the local court, but the man avoided prosecution after reportedly fleeing to Japan. The attacks against her intensified after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Seban campaigned for a seat in the French parliament, running against a far-left candidate from a party she described as “deeply antisemitic.”
(Christianity Today; 3.27.26)READMORE>>>>>>
French intelligence warns of rising Islamist attacks against Christians
An internal analytical report from French intelligence notes a growing trend of Islamist attacks and mounting pressure on Christian communities. In November 2025, France’s domestic intelligence service (DGSI) reported an escalating threat to Christian communities across Europe. As Le Figaro writes, a confidential DGSI report reviews the recent wave of attacks and highlights systematic jihadist propaganda targeting churches and believers. The DGSI statement followed the September 10 assault in Lyon on Ashur Sarnayu, an Iraqi Christian confined to a wheelchair. Investigators believe the crime reflects a longstanding fixation of Islamist groups on striking Christians, whom radical organizations label “infidels” and “idol-worshippers.” (Union of Orthodox Journalists 11/27/25) READMORE>>>>
An internal analytical report from French intelligence notes a growing trend of Islamist attacks and mounting pressure on Christian communities. In November 2025, France’s domestic intelligence service (DGSI) reported an escalating threat to Christian communities across Europe. As Le Figaro writes, a confidential DGSI report reviews the recent wave of attacks and highlights systematic jihadist propaganda targeting churches and believers. The DGSI statement followed the September 10 assault in Lyon on Ashur Sarnayu, an Iraqi Christian confined to a wheelchair. Investigators believe the crime reflects a longstanding fixation of Islamist groups on striking Christians, whom radical organizations label “infidels” and “idol-worshippers.” (Union of Orthodox Journalists 11/27/25) READMORE>>>>
May 16, 2024: Evangelical Focus reported: France has a new law to fight against harmful religious cults. The Law to “Reinforce the Fight Against Sectarian Drifts” (officially promulgated on 10 May) adapts the 2001 law to new scenarios in which groups might seek to manipulate the freedom of citizens psychologically or physically in new contexts such as social media. Two new offences are described. One is “placing or maintaining a person in a state of psychological or physical subjection”. The other is “inciting a person to abandon or refrain from care, or to adopt practices that clearly expose the person concerned to a serious health risk”.