Catholic Conversions Rebound After COVID-19 Decline

Easter baptisms and receptions into the Catholic Church reach new highs across the U.S. and beyond.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:05pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeated Catholic cross icon in a grid pattern, conceptually representing the renewed energy and growth of the Catholic Church.The vibrant resurgence of Catholic conversions during Easter signals a potential rebound for the Church after a period of decline.Los Angeles Today

Following a recent decline, conversions to the Roman Catholic Church over Easter suggest the Church is rebounding in the U.S. and beyond. Numerous dioceses reported their highest numbers of people preparing to be fully received into the Catholic Church in years, with some locations seeing double the number of converts compared to previous years.

Why it matters

The increase in Catholic conversions comes after the Church suffered a decline in new members beginning with the COVID-19 lockdowns. The rebound suggests the Catholic faith may be regaining popularity, though the overall religious landscape in the U.S. still shows Catholicism facing an uphill battle compared to other Christian denominations and the religiously unaffiliated.

The details

Dioceses across the U.S. reported significant increases in the number of people entering the Catholic Church over Easter 2026. The Archdiocese of Detroit expected 1,428 new Catholics, a 21-year high, while the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston prepared for its largest number of converts in 15 years. The Diocese of Des Moines jumped from 265 people to 400, and Philadelphia expected a total that would be double what it was in 2017. The Washington diocese reported an expected 1,755 converts during Easter, beating last year's 15-year high of 1,566.

  • In 2020, Catholic conversion rates dropped to 70,796 adult baptisms or receptions into full communion.
  • By 2021, the numbers climbed to just under 75,000.
  • In 2024, the numbers exceeded pre-COVID levels, reaching just over 90,000.
  • For Easter 2026, the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas was expecting a 37% jump in converts.

The players

Cardinal Robert McElroy

The cardinal of the Washington diocese, who believes the Holy Spirit is responsible for the increase in Catholic conversions.

Laura Nelson

The director of faith formation for the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, who was previously worried about whether the Church could recover from the COVID-19 decline in conversions.

Archbishop Mitchell Thomas Rozanski

The archbishop of St. Louis, who said isolation resulting from COVID-19 and technology have played a large role in the rebound of Catholic conversions.

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What they’re saying

“We are not just back to pre-COVID numbers. We've exceeded them.”

— Laura Nelson, Director of faith formation, Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas

“We are kind of stymied.”

— Cardinal Robert McElroy, Cardinal, Washington diocese

The takeaway

The rebound in Catholic conversions, particularly during the Easter season, suggests the Church may be regaining popularity after a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the overall religious landscape in the U.S. still shows Catholicism facing challenges, with more people leaving the faith than joining in recent years compared to other Christian denominations and the religiously unaffiliated.