Young adult attendance surges in Catholic Church as youth turn to purpose, tradition in chaotic world: Cardinal Dolan

A growing number of young adults, particularly those in their teens and 20s, are turning to the Catholic Church, defying decades of declining religious affiliation as Gen Z and Millennials seek purpose in an increasingly chaotic world, according to Cardinal Dolan, who penned an op-ed for the New York Post.

Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, recounted conversations he had with numerous priests from around the globe during the election of Pope Francis XIV in Rome, following the death of Pope Francis earlier this year. Dolan reported that all of the priests observed a phenomenon that was consistent not only at the Vatican but also in their parishes: an increase in the number of youthful Catholics.

Dolan said that during a coffee break, one cardinal told him, "Have you noticed all the young people from around the world who are here in Rome?" Another cardinal remarked, "I walked through Saint Peter's Square today and spent time talking to a group of teenage pilgrims, here for the Jubilee Year of Hope."

"A group from one of the universities back home is here in Rome," a third cardinal chimed, saying that they "invited me to say Mass for them."

Recent data shows record-breaking baptisms in the Catholic Church for young adults, not just in the United States but across the world. Dioceses nationwide, including Fort Worth, Texas, and Lansing, Michigan, have confirmed the "sacred surge," reporting spikes in conversions and baptisms ranging from 30 percent to 70 percent. Internationally, similar trends are occurring, with Austria noting an 85 percent increase in adult baptisms, and countries like Canada, Belgium, and Sweden following suit, according to Word on Fire.

Young people are searching for authenticity and meaning, said Father Will Straten, priest of St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M, where 20 students were baptized this year, the highest number in over a decade. Straten told the National Catholic Register, "The students who aren't Catholic are hungry and are looking for something. People are just looking for something that's authentic and real. They're looking for something that's grounded and seems to make sense."

The New York Post spoke to a priest in Manhattan, New York City, who confirmed that at least three-quarters of his new converts are in their early 20s and 30s, saying, "It was really after the pandemic that the parish in general started to grow."

"Some were Protestants, some were nonreligious, some were Catholics who never practiced the faith. Both men and women," said Father Raymond Maria La Grange of St. Vincent Ferrer. "Some well-off, others living day to day. Some intellectuals, some mystics. Some got to know Catholics who brought them in, others came in on their own and hardly know any Catholics."

"It's a fun time to be a priest. It's busy, in a good way," La Grange added. He argued that young adults are inspired to be a part of the Roman Catholic Church because "they realize the world cannot provide them with any moral order, or reasons for living in any particular way. A culture of license has left them unmoored."