Ask him what he does believe in.

If he can tell you, the next step is to ask how he justifies his belief - what is it that makes him believe and how can he verify that his belief is true.
Ask him why he doesn't believe in the virgin birth or the resurrection etc., but mostly get him to explain his beliefs using the same logic.

Softly, softly does it.

I honestly think that there are some people who say they are religious because they don't want to be ostracized from their families and peer groups. This is the problem when religion gets a hold of a society or culture. These are the last people who want to defend a faith they don't hold with any conviction

‘God is dead. It just takes a while to move the body’

― Yuval Noah Harari, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

He's practicualy an atheist. He just has to admit it to himself.

Chances are he is no longer a believer but for reasons of his own has not officially announced. Possibly those reasons may include family or friends that he does not want to alienate.

A lot of people are afraid of what their life would be like without faith/belief in god. Perhaps he doesn't truly believe, but is just lost as to what his life would be like with his Catholic identity.

Evidence based rational thinking is a recovery tool.

Sounds a lot like whoever wrote Mark, and also Paul himself.

Cardinal George Pell, the highest ranking Christian from Oz, has stated that Genesis, Garden of Eden etc is a myth not meant to be taken literally. So whence comes the original sin for which they have always wanted to punish us. So, the Bible begins false, so based on such a dodgy foundation?
They continue to say they believe out of fear, even afraid to admit to themselves.

Religious people almost always reject the bits that do not suit them. Only the most puritanical adhere to the literal word of their preferred holy book ( and 50% of those are hypocritical). They are mostly concerned with imposing restrictions on others and forgiving their own faults. ?

It is much like any other relationship, people stay in it because they know it and people expect it of them. People are afraid to step out of their norm and see what is outside of the hell that surrounds them.

It sound like he talking his way out if religion he starting to see it more as a story then truth. Now it may be because of family why he hasnt completely come out as an atheist.

One can stop believing in fantasy, when the age of reason sets in.

When they're about to die? but no , about 8 years old would do

There comes a point when a person realizes that all of these religions have one unifying factor...and that is to placate and control by fear. There are rules and lists of things to do or not to do to insure your place in the after life. For me, the hypocrisy slammed me in the face and I was able to let go. I agree with the statement that he'll come to it when he's ready.

If you no longer believe, it is no longer your religion.

Cognitive dissonance is an amazingly resilient psychological state. My advice is to leave it be. He’ll come to it when he’s ready.

There are SO MANY types and levels of religion these days, you could pick and choose one that suits your needs easily...there's always some biblical justification, real or imagined.
Back when I was a "believer," I was all or nothing for me. You either believed ALL of it or NONE of it...I chose none...