Brazil’s Catholic youth want more doctrine, a reverent liturgy, and less politics, survey finds

A lack of reverence for the liturgy and an excessive emphasis on sociopolitical issues emerged as the primary factors hindering survey respondents’ participation in the life of faith.

Young Catholics in Brazil are thirsting for more formation about the Church and say there is an excessive emphasis on sociopolitical issues, according to the National Survey on Youth Evangelization, which interviewed over 11,000 people across Brazil in 2025.

The data were recently presented at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB, by its Portuguese acronym).

The report presented partial results from the survey, conducted in 2025 by the Episcopal Commission for Youth of the CNBB in partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Youth Observatory, the UNESCO Chair on Youth, Education, and Society, and the Department of Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

Adolescents and young adults, aged 12 to 29 and from all regions of Brazil, participated in the study. A non-probabilistic, voluntary (opt-in) methodology was employed, utilizing a predominantly quantitative, self-administered digital questionnaire distributed through the Connected Youth communication channels.

Holiness and faith

The study showed that holiness and Christian faith were the most frequently mentioned topics of interest among the survey participants. Conversely, a lack of reverence for the liturgy and an excessive emphasis on sociopolitical issues emerged as the primary factors hindering the respondents’ participation in the life of faith.

Patrícia Espíndola de Lima Teixeira of the Youth Observatory at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, who coordinated the research, told ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News, that the findings come “as no surprise to those who work directly with young people.”

“We have a generation that grew up exposed to a huge volume of superficial content, and that is precisely the hypothesis for why so many young people show a thirst for deeper relationships that foster faith and a sense of purpose in life,” she said.

The researcher does not see a divide between conservatives and progressives in the survey results.

“What we conducted was a study free of preconceived notions, which revealed a pastoral tension to be embraced and reflected upon with maturity and balance,” Teixeira said. “I believe the Church is experiencing calls for precisely this: overcoming polarization and living out unity even amid our differences, in the spirit of Pentecost.”

“I like to recall the Pauline image of the body and its many members (1 Cor 12:12–27): The Church is one body yet possesses a genuine plurality of gifts, sensibilities, and lived experiences, and this diversity must be lived out in communion,” she continued. “This is an agenda that warrants consistent, in-depth exploration not only with young people but with everyone.”

According to Layla Kamila, 29, coordinator of the Jovens Conectados (Connected Youth) communications team for the CNBB’s Episcopal Commission for Youth and a member of the team responsible for the National Survey on Youth Evangelization, the study demonstrated a thirst for authenticity in faith.

The goal of the research was to listen to young people and understand their experience of faith, she said. The data revealed that many express a strong desire to deepen their spiritual lives. There is significant interest in themes such as holiness, the word of God, the Eucharist, Christian formation, and well-celebrated liturgy.

More than labels, young people desire authenticity, Kamila said. They hope to find a Church that proclaims Jesus Christ clearly, offers paths for formation, fosters a genuine encounter with God, and helps them live out their faith in today’s world.

The coordinator of Connected Youth also assessed the high number of young people who say they are weary of the politicization within the Church. Kamila emphasized that the data should be analyzed calmly, avoiding isolated interpretations.

“Among the perceptions voiced by participants, many expressed a desire to find a Church deeply centered on Jesus Christ, spirituality, liturgy, and faith formation,” Kamila said. “Open-ended responses also reveal observations regarding the desire for evangelization to keep Christ at the center.”

She clarified that “this does not mean diminishing the social dimension of the Church’s mission. Quite the opposite. Proclaiming the Gospel and committing to justice, the poor, peace, and human dignity go hand in hand.”

Both Teixeira and Kamila hope that the data presented in the study will be well-received by Catholic communities and Church leadership.

“This research grew out of a desire to listen before proposing paths forward, in harmony with the Church’s synodal journey,” Kamila said. “As Pope Francis has so often reminded us: ‘Everyone, everyone, everyone!’”

“This call also inspires this research: to listen to all young people and to embrace their experiences, joys, concerns, and dreams, so that no one feels outside of the life of the Church,” she said. “We hope that dioceses, parishes, movements, new communities, and pastoral groups will welcome these data as a tool for pastoral discernment capable of strengthening the evangelization of young people in Brazil. After all, behind every number lies a story, a face, a family, and a journey of faith.”

For Teixeira, “listening does not relativize the Church’s faith but rather helps refine the way we proclaim the Gospel to new generations. More than just a diagnosis of difficulties, the research reveals young people who desire to deepen their faith, better understand the Church, and find solid paths of formation. It is precisely this openness that makes the pastoral landscape one of profound hope.”

This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.