Faith returns: a spiritual revival among Generation Z
By Paula Cañas · Communications Consultant at GAD3
Last Monday, singer Rosalía presented her new — still unreleased — album in Madrid’s Callao Square, filled with religious symbolism and mystical references. This is no coincidence: it reflects a broader trend among young people, who are once again turning their gaze towards the transcendent.
This is confirmed by the international study on values and spirituality carried out by GAD3 and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, which analyses the beliefs and attitudes of young people aged between 18 and 29 in eight countries: Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom.
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A renewed search
According to the report, half of young people believe that spirituality plays a greater role in their lives today than it did five years ago. Although Spain remains among the European countries with the lowest levels of religious practice, spiritual sensitivity is also on the rise here, particularly among men aged 24 to 29. Far from disappearing, faith is being redefined in personal terms: less institutional, more emotional, and closely linked to the search for meaning in times of uncertainty.
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Believing, but in a different way
The study shows that only one in ten young believers attends a religious service on a daily basis, yet most state that one can be a good believer without going to a place of worship. New generations pray more quietly, engage in dialogue with God in their own way, and link spirituality to solidarity and emotional well-being. Religion is experienced less as an obligation and more as an intimate, free and coherent experience aligned with personal values.
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A renewed profile
Among young believers, women still predominate and the average age is around 24, although the most recent growth is among younger men. The emerging profile is that of a generation seeking authenticity, associating faith with values such as forgiveness, kindness and justice, and understanding the Church primarily as a human community. Along these lines, phenomena such as the large crowds attending Hakuna concerts — where thousands of young people combine prayer, music and celebration — reflect this new way of living spirituality: more approachable, participatory and connected to contemporary culture.
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From adolescent disenchantment to inner reconnection
The study reveals that loss of faith occurs mainly during adolescence, between the ages of 11 and 19. From the age of 18 onwards, coinciding with entry into university and the first major life decisions, the likelihood of reconnecting with faith or spirituality increases. This is not a mass return, but rather a quiet rebirth — more reflective and emotionally grounded
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A contemporary spirituality
From music and art to social media, young people reinterpret religious symbols and adapt them to their own language. The presentation of Rosalía’s new album in Callao Square is one example of this spiritual sensibility that connects the aesthetic with the transcendent — a sign of how faith continues to inspire, transform and find new spaces for expression.
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A generation in search of meaning
The findings of the study point to a clear conclusion: spirituality does not disappear, it evolves. Generation Z experiences faith in a less institutional and more personal way, with fewer rules and a stronger inward search. And, paradoxically, within this contemporary quest there is also a return to roots: to the need for stability, ritual and transcendence in the midst of an increasingly fast-paced and virtual society. Perhaps, deep down, today’s young people resemble their grandparents more than their parents, sharing with them a longing for meaning, for silence and for community in a world that barely leaves time to pause.
