The story of young people and faith is more complex than the familiar narrative of decline.
Beneath statistics of shrinking Mass attendance lies another reality: young adults returning to the Church, sometimes in significant numbers, drawn by a renewed sense of hope.
In Australia, signs are emerging that the next generation is not indifferent to faith but searching for a Church that is authentic, communal, and alive.
The Francis effect carried forward
Why are young people returning?
Commentators point to the “Francis Effect”, now carried into the papacy of Pope Leo XIV, whose election was the most televised and digitally amplified conclave in history.
Pope Leo’s fluency in English and other languages, his gentle humour, and his social media instincts have made him accessible to a generation seeking authenticity.
From the start, Pope Leo signalled a commitment to digital presence, posting his first messages on Instagram and X within days of his election.
Beyond personality
Yet personality alone is not enough.
At the heart of this return is the hunger for a Church that resonates with young people’s deepest aspirations.
They seek beautiful, participatory liturgy, inclusive communities that serve the poor, and leaders who address social justice and human dignity.
Digital connection and timeless tradition
Technology also plays a crucial role.
Online communities, retreats, and livestreamed liturgies extend connection and formation, complementing parish life and meeting young people where they are.
At the same time, many are rediscovering the beauty of tradition.
This blend of renewal and rootedness encourages participation in ways that honour the past while embracing the future.
The challenge of neophytes
Such signs of renewal bring responsibility.
Three years after initiation, many neophytes disappear from parishes.
If initiation is treated as an end rather than the beginning of a lifelong journey.
The pastoral priority must move towards a sustained period of accompaniment after initiation, where the newly baptised are helped to integrate their encounter with Christ into the communal life of the Church.
Building communities of belonging
Australian dioceses are well placed to respond.
Community meals, youth-led service projects, pilgrimages, and biblical reflection groups can link neophytes with older Catholics, forming bonds that weave them into parish life.
Intergenerational mentorship, where elders share wisdom and younger voices offer fresh vision, creates the reciprocity Pope Francis described as “walking together” in synodality.
World Youth Day and diocesan gatherings provide platforms for young Catholics to celebrate faith and claim active roles in their local communities.
Roots and horizons
The task is clear.
We must safeguard these young Catholics by giving them deep roots and wide horizons.
If they find a home in communities that welcome their gifts, challenge them to mission, and accompany them with love, then the Church in Australia will not only retain its young but be renewed by them.
Pope Leo’s message of hope
At the Jubilee of Youth, in August 2025, Pope Leo XIV delivered this stirring message to over one million young Catholics:
“Dear young people, aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less. Then you will see the light of the Gospel grow every day, within you and around you.”
It is an invitation that can carry young Catholics, and indeed the universal Church, into a future filled with hope.
- Clare Schwantes holds a PhD from the University of Queensland and a Master of Theological Studies with a focus on Liturgy, in addition to Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Psychology. She also has diplomas in Editing and Publishing and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is the Director of the Archdiocesan Liturgy Office in Brisbane, Australia and Chair of the National Liturgical Council in Australia.
- Clare is the author of From Page to Proclamation – Interpreting Scripture in the Context of Liturgy (2024).