An interseting article, it quotes some facts which are known but then takes these facts and uses them to support a theory which is not true or actual. People in europe are not returning to God or suddenely found he exists, Catholics are being pulled back to their original roots and beliefs which were founded thousends of years ago.
You must first understand who is leading the Catholic church and the dilemas the church faces in todays world.
Pope Benedict is a "hard Line" Catholic, as Cardinal Ratzinger he was in charge of the most influencial council in the Catholic Church under Pope John Paul. As Cardinal Ratzinger, the Pope often stated his rejection of any change in Curch Theology in regard to any issues which todays world has, such as Birth Control etc. We must not forget that Cardinal Ratzinger was and still is one of the hard line catholic theologists.
Under the leadership of Pope Benedict the Catholic Church has been called to return to its roots and beleifs. The Church's dilema is that it cannot accept the chamges within the world as this would mean having to accept a change in its basic teachings. The Church has had to accept that it is loosing its followers but to compensate this it is attempting to firm up its core and retain it.
The increase of Pilgrims is not that there are more comverts it is more that the call to the roots of the church has lead to an increase in Pilgrims who which to show their beleif in actions rather than words