France

Capital: Paris

Major Language: French

Area: 640,679 km2

Population: 65.5 million

HDI Rank: 26 of 189

Major Religion:

Catholic: 34 million (52%)

Other Religions:

Protestant: 2 million (3%)

Islam: 5.3 million (8%)

Other: 24 million (37%)

General Information:

Three basic European ethnic stocks--Celtic, Latin, and Frankish--have blended over the centuries to make up France's present population. France maintains a massive global influence through its culture, cuisine, wine-making, philosophy, music, art, film, fashion, literature, and sports. France has won the most Nobel prizes for literature. It plays an influential global role as a member of the various multilateral organizations such as UN, EU, NATO, the G-7, and the G-20. It is currently the most visited tourist destination in the world. Soccer and tennis are most popular sports.

Religious Background:

Religion in France is diverse and secular. Since the beginning of the 20th century, there is absolute neutrality of the state with respect to religion. Catholicism remains dominant. France is the homeland of the Protestant Reformer John Calvin, but Protestant Christianity remains a small minority. Due to an increased influx of Muslims, Islam has grown to become the second largest religion in France. The French Jewish community is one of the largest in the world, with over 600,000 Jews. More than 25% of the French are unaffiliated.

Catholic background:

In 496, Clovis I, the king of the Franks, was converted from paganism to Catholicism, which precipitated the conversion of all his people. In 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, forming the political and religious foundations of Catholicism in Europe. During the French Revolution (1789–1790), the Catholic Church went through severe persecution. A significant place of interest is the shrine of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ in France. The Church is composed of 24 archdioceses, 72 dioceses and 18,844 parishes. Patron saints: Our Lady of Assumption, Joan of Arc, Denis, Martin, Thérèse.

Prayer Points

1. French to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior

Pray that everyone will get an opportunity to hear the gospel and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2. Catholics to know Christ

Pray for the salvation of 34 million Catholics in France.
Most are ignorant of, or indifferent to, the gospel, many having never meaningfully encountered it. Pray for the gospel to come to the Catholics in a powerful way and many come to Christ.
Pray for the Spirit of the Lord to open the minds of Catholics across the nation to see the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Catholics to understand that salvation is by grace alone, apart from works, and that Christ’s righteousness is given as a gift.
Pray for all the Catholics attending the 18,844 parishes to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Pray for the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, 21,930 priests, 8,361 brothers, and 42,442 sisters.
Pray for Catholics seeking to know the Lord, to be exposed to the gospel in the way they understand.

3. Evangelicals to grow and multiply

Only 2% are Evangelical, and only 8% regularly attend church. A staggering 80% people of France have never even handled a Bible. Pray that the Evangelicals will proclaim God’s word to them. Ask the Holy Spirit to grant creative and innovative ideas of evangelism to the mission agencies in the country.

4. Social evils and issues in the country

An increase in violent attacks of Islamic terrorism within France have brought tensions between Muslims and the secular French to a boiling point. Pray for the transformation of Muslim immigrants and terrorists into bold witnesses for Christ.

5. Other Religions

Eastern Orthodoxy, Armenian Orthodoxy, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism amongst others religions in France. Pray for doors to be opened where the true gospel has not been reached yet.