The number of priests in the world dropped by 136 during 2015, the Vatican has reported.
The increased number of priests in African dioceses and religious orders could not make up for the sizeable fall in Europe, which lost 2,502 priests in a year.
Over five years from 2010 to 2015 – a statistically more relevant period – the number of diocesan priests globally rose, while the number of priests belonging to religious orders declined.
The 2017 Annuario Pontificio, or Vatican yearbook, and a new edition of the Vatican Statistical Yearbook, reported that the number of baptised Catholics grew one per cent in a year to reach 1.285 billion at the end of 2015. The countries with the most Catholics are, in descending order, Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, United States, Italy, France, Colombia, Spain, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Argentina.
Taken together, these 10 countries account for almost 56 per cent of the world’s Catholic population. Looking at 2010 to 2015, the global Catholic population increased by 7.4 per cent, the Vatican said. This means that in 2010 there were an average of 2,900 Catholics for every Catholic priest; in 2015, the ratio had climbed to 3,091 Catholics per priest.
Africa continued to be the continent with the largest percentage growth, increasing by 19.4 per cent over the same five-year period. The increase in Africa outpaced the growth of the general population.
In Europe, the Americas and Asia, generally speaking, the statistical growth or decline of the Catholic population coincided with the growth or decline of the population as a whole over the five-year period, according to the Central Office for Church Statistics.
Terror is a curse, says archbishop
Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of Moscow has described the bombing of an underground train in St Petersburg as “a villainous terrorist act”. Fourteen people died in the attack.
“Together with all faithful Catholics and believers of other faiths and religions, I turn to God with a burning prayer for deliverance of Russia and the world from the curse of terrorism,” the archbishop said.
Defy court, Venezuelan bishops urge
Venezuela’s bishops have called for “peaceful civil disobedience” amid a constitutional crisis in the country.
“Venezuelans can’t remain passive, be intimidated, or lose hope,” the bishops’ conference wrote. “It’s time to ask ourselves seriously and responsibly if civil disobedience, peaceful demonstrations, and fair complaints directed at national and international bodies are the valid and opportune path forward.”
The statement followed a decision by Venezuela’s Supreme Court to strip the country’s opposition-controlled parliament of its powers. In two separate rulings, the court’s constitutional chamber ruled that it would assume legislative duties.
The decision provoked sharp condemnation from around the world, with many calling it a coup and a lurch towards authoritarianism and dictatorship. Critics claim that the court, responding to government orders, aimed to eliminate the country’s only opposition-controlled branch of government. The court cited parliament’s disregard for previous court rulings, arguing that the assembly remained in “contempt”.
The bishops’ statement called the action “morally unacceptable” and “reprehensible”. It also mentioned the move as a “precipice towards dictatorship”.
“A nation without a parliament is like a body without a soul. It is dead, and all possibility of opinion, divergent or contrary to those in power, disappears,” it said. “This opens the door to arbitrariness, corruption and persecution.”
The memorandum was signed by the eight bishops and archbishops who make up the episcopal conference’s governing body.
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