Why Young People Are Becoming Catholic

The United States is currently experiencing a surge in Catholic conversion. Los Angeles recently reported the highest number of Easter converts in 10 years, and the diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, saw an 87% increase in new converts from 2023 to 2024. What’s interesting about this new wave of conversions is that many of them are young—Millennials and members of Gen Z. While some speculate that this trend is tied to the pandemic, the continued growth years later suggests something deeper at work. Books such as MTF’s Highlights of the Catholic Faith help explain these deeper reasons by drawing attention to timeless truths of the Church that continue to attract new generations.

Beauty and Transcendence

The soaring grandeur of medieval churches such as Chartres or Cologne Cathedral, the solemnity of the Easter Vigil, and the unspeakable beauty of masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Pietà are inherently attractive to young people. In a world polluted with abstract art, unpleasant music, and tasteless architecture, the Catholic Church offers an alternative: beauty as it has been sought after and cherished for centuries. As Highlights of the Catholic Faith reminds us, beauty is never merely decoration—it is a pathway to God, lifting the soul toward the divine.

The Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

No other Protestant church offers what the Catholic Church does: a physical encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. The bold claim that Catholics receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus—crucified two millennia ago—speaks deeply to the hunger of the human heart. Many young people instinctively respond to this promise of something transcendent yet tangible.

The Emptiness of Modern Society

Riches, fame, power—this is what the world has offered for centuries. And like others before them, young people are starting to discover their emptiness. For them, the Catholic Church, with its call to humility, self-sacrifice, and spiritual poverty, offers something radically different. Not an easier path—but a better, truer one: a way of life that doesn’t promise happiness in this life, but in the next.

Strong Catholic Leaders on the Internet

In the digital age, the influence of Catholic leaders such as Dr. Scott Hahn, Bishop Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Fr. Carlos Martins has been profound. Their videos, podcasts, and writings present the faith in a compelling and accessible way, reaching thousands of young people online and guiding them toward the Church.

While the number of converts to the Catholic Faith can fluctuate from year to year, one thing is for certain: this surge in young adult conversions inspires hope for the future and brings renewed fervor to Catholic dioceses across the United States. For those seeking to understand the deeper realities behind this movement, MTF’s Highlights of the Catholic Faith offers a clear and accessible guide to the truths that continue to draw hearts to Christ and His Church.