In the courtyard of the Church of Saint-Séverin, nestled in Paris’s Latin Quarter near Notre-Dame Cathedral, Laure D’Haussy handed out paper fortune-tellers to strangers as icebreakers. If a passerby picked the corner marked with an olive branch, they were challenged to shout, “Long live the pope, long live Jesus!”
D’Haussy is part of Anuncio, a French Catholic organization dedicated to proselytizing and promoting Christian culture, primarily composed of young people aged 18 to 35. When news broke of Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to Paris, the group organized an ad gentes evangelism mission to share the gospel creatively in public spaces.
Beyond the church walls, the Boulevard Saint-Germain was decorated with the Vatican’s yellow and white colors. Police vans and metal fences cordoned off large sections of the neighborhood to manage crowds for the pope’s motorcade, marking his first visit to the French capital as pontiff.
“I hope that this visit wakes France up,” said D’Haussy, adjusting her red Anuncio T-shirt. “The atmosphere in the country is awful. I want people to talk to each other more. I hope this visit brings people together.”
About 30 members of the congregation gathered for the event. The larger group, consisting of experienced missionaries, formed a circle of chairs near a white statue of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, while newer members received instructions from veterans Jean-Philibert and Thérèse.
“It’s important to open up about what led you to your faith,” Thérèse explained to newcomers. “Don’t just walk up to someone and say, ‘Hello, have you heard about Jesus?’ They will just hit the ground running.” Jean-Philibert added that asking people if there is something they would like to pray about can bring a vivid experience to the interaction.
Unlike many Protestant denominations, Catholicism has traditionally spread its faith quietly through institutions such as schools, hospitals, charities, and parishes rather than through direct street evangelism. “Anuncio was created in that spirit,” D’Haussy said. “People wouldn’t really take to the streets to evangelise, so we decided to change that.” The organization now operates in major French cities including Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse, with members meeting monthly to spread the gospel.
This growth coincides with a rise in baptisms in France. According to Catholic Church statistics, a record 13,000 adults and 8,000 teenagers were baptized last Easter. Between 2015 and 2022, the annual number of baptisms averaged around 4,000. However, France remains a staunchly secular nation where the 1905 laïcité law enshrines the separation of church and state, and Catholic affiliation has declined steadily over decades.
Before heading out, the group entered the church for prayer, accompanied by a band playing religious pop songs. D’Haussy led the prayers, asking participants to prepare their hearts for the conversations ahead. After receiving blessings from the local priest, the members paired up to begin their mission.
D’Haussy walked with Alexandra, 37, who had joined the group the previous year. “I’m quite shy,” Alexandra admitted. “So at first I was quite hesitant to go out and evangelise like this, but it helps that the encounters are really authentic.”
Their first encounter was with Brigitte, an 83-year-old resident who felt stuck in her neighborhood. As they chatted, Brigitte shared that her family was eagerly waiting for her to send photos of the pope. D’Haussy asked her what she believed happened after death. “I don’t know, but I just hope my family will be there waiting,” Brigitte replied. D’Haussy suggested Brigitte ask God for support in her wishes.
Past the security barriers, the streets filled with people waving Vatican flags. Alexandra and D’Haussy spoke with Martin and Gabriel, two 20-year-old students. While not religious, they wanted to experience the historic event firsthand. When asked about attending the pope’s event at the Stade de France, Martin explained they had chosen not to register to prioritize those who truly believed in God.
“Oh, I disagree! Jesus would have wanted each and every young person present,” D’Haussy responded.
Approximately 80,000 young people gathered with Pope Leo XIV on Friday evening at the Stade de France. Nearby, Harley and Tristan, both in their mid-twenties, said they followed the pope’s messages closely despite not being religious. They identified with his comments on AI, which he had warned about during a speech at UNESCO earlier that day. The pope highlighted a troubling paradox where machines possess “intelligence” while humans are increasingly judged by their efficiency and discarded if deemed unproductive.
As the crowd pressed closer to catch a glimpse of the pope, Alexandra and D’Haussy ran into other group members. Energy lifted as they began singing the French Catholic song “Comment ne pas te louer?” (“How can I not praise you?”).
“There he is, there he is!” Alexandra exclaimed as Pope Leo appeared, waving gently to the onlookers. “He is so handsome,” D’Haussy said. The women quickly made plans to head to the Stade de France for the vigil.
“The pope exudes wisdom,” Alexandra said. “I hope that what he has to say will help me expand my faith. I hope that I will get to experience my conversion all over again.” D’Haussy packed away her paper fortune-tellers, and the group moved on to their next encounter with the pope.
I attended one of their meetings and the friendliness was genuine. It feels less like aggression and more like connection.
I worry about imposing religious messages in public spaces under laïcité laws. Where is the line drawn?
It is fascinating to see young people revitalizing such traditional methods. The baptism numbers do seem to confirm a trend.
Is it really effective to shout slogans on the street? Many Parisians prefer quiet dignity over loud proselytizing.
What a unique approach using fortune tellers as icebreakers! I hope this brings more warmth to the city.