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.