Four kids & mom of Catholic family die in a house fire.

[Athene]

I don't think if I'd call France an atheist country, though, it is certainly more atheistic than most.

It's not. He just don't get the distinction between atheist and secular. France doesn't tolerate religious symbolism in public buildings, such as schools, courts or administrative buildings. Same goes for the Scandinavian countries. They're secular, not atheist.

Right. 

But, I think he may have been speaking in terms of actual affiliation. While the number of French citizens who identify as atheists is notably higher than most populations, it doesn't appear that they represent a majority.

That was my point.