Good news:
The total number of Catholics in the world, according to the 2024 Pontifical Yearbook, is 1.39 billion.
This figure represents a growth of 1% compared to the previous year, indicating that the Catholic Church continues to expand globally.
Where is the Church growing?
- Africa is the continent with the greatest growth, with 3% more Catholics.
- Asia and America are also growing, although at a slower pace, with 0.6% and 0.9% more faithful respectively.
- Europe, for its part, remains stable with around 286 million Catholics.
In conclusion:
- The Catholic Church is in a moment of expansion in terms of the number of faithful, permanent deacons and bishops.
- However, it faces challenges such as the decrease in the number of priests, professed religious and priestly vocations, especially in Europe.
What does this mean for the future of the Church?
- It is important to continue praying for priestly vocations and for the vitality of the Church throughout the world.
- The Church must adapt to new times and continue to be a source of faith, hope and charity for all.
