SSPXAsia.com: World News Archive

Conversion in Sweden

SWEDEN - SPECIAL EDITION. July 30, 2006. The Lutheran Rev. Fr. Sten SANDMARK, pastor of the parish of Oskarshamn in Sweden, converted on Sunday July 30th, 2006, to the Catholic Church at St Nicolas du Chardonnet in Paris, during the solemn mass of 10.30 A.M. He celebrated his last Lutheran office on Sunday July 16th in his parish, in order to finish his contract which bound him to the national Church of Sweden. Please find hereafter his last sermon which he addressed to his 300 practicing churchgoers, on a total of 12,000 faithful officially registered in the parish:

"The reason why I return to the Church of my ancestors from before 1517? There is only one God, who reveals himself as a Trinity, the Father, the Son begotten of the Father, and the Holy Ghost who proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Son of God, sent by the Father, became incarnate and was made man to free us from sin and death through his sacrifice on the Cross.

He has founded the only ONE Church and founded her on St. Peter (Mt 16: 16-19). She is his own institution for salvation, to continue de Lord's work after his Resurrection and Ascension, through the preaching of the Gospel, the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the administration of the seven sacraments and the given duty as shepherds of the flock. 'As my Father hath sent Me, even so I send you' (Jn 20:21).

As there is only ONE God, there is also only ONE Redeemer, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus there is also only ONE religion instituted by the Son of God himself, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Mystical Body of the Lord (1 Cor 12:27). Only St. Peter received the power to lead the flock (Jn 21:15-17). He founded the local church in Rome, where he was to be martyred. In the Roman pope we find the legitimate successor of St. Peter.

It is necessary to belong to this Church for salvation. 'He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me, despiseth Him that sent Me' (Lc 10:16). In 1517 Martin Luther separated himself from this Church, to his own detriment, both in doctrine, worship and discipline. Many countries were separated from the Church through this unfortunate action. As a consequence, innumerable sects have been founded, all of whom refer themselves to Christ. There is no continuous line of apostolic succession in unity with the successor of St. Peter and Christ himself to be found in these sects. Not even the Swedish church has any such apostolic succession.

In order to see how far this aforementioned church today has left the order of things as they were given to us by Christ, and the doctrines of the apostles, it suffices to mention the ordination of women and the blessing of homosexual couples.

After many years of struggle and prolonged prayer, I have decided to leave this community so as to return to the Church which was founded by Christ himself, the bride of the slaughtered Lamb. The Church I return to, is presently herself afflicted by a severe crisis.

To her (and only to her) Christ has promised that ' the gates of hell shall not prevail against her' (Mt 16:18). I promise to pray for all Christians, and I myself ask all of you to include me in your prayers. It is my hope, that all of us shall return to the safety of Christ's flock and that we shall in the end find eternal salvation.

This prayer full of hope, I address it in a special way to Our Lady, the Mother of the incarnate God, who, in her immaculate and virginal state, is the prototype for the Church. Saint Bridget, strong in the faith and united with the only Church of Rome, pray for your and my native Swedish country.

'Veritas liberabit vos' - the truth shall make you free (Jn 8:32)."

******

Austria Honors Traditional Archbishop Lefebvre (1905-1991)
with a Postage Stamp on the Occasion of the Centennial of His Birth
The first country to have issued two postage stamps in honour of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was Gabon

Siberia Catholics Hope to Come in From the Cold
Construction a Priority, Says Bishop of Diocese at Irkutsk

KOENIGSTEIN, Germany, NOV. 18, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Catholics' frequent use of private homes for their services in Siberia "makes them look like sects" to locals and thus makes urgent the construction of churches there, says a bishop.

The first visit by Bishop Cyryl Klimowicz, of the Diocese of St. Joseph of Irkutsk, to the Germany-based Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need was an occasion to learn firsthand about the situation and needs of Catholics in Eastern Siberia.

"With a territory of more than 10 million square kilometers, St. Joseph's is the largest diocese in the world, though the number of Catholics is only 50,000, served by some 100 parishes," the bishop explained.

"At present, 45 priests, only one of them a Russian national, 57 nuns and one religious brother are serving the spiritual needs of the faithful," the 52-year-old prelate added, in a statement sent to ZENIT by Aid to the Church in Need.

The priests and religious "have a lot of difficulties here, in particular, in obtaining visas and in covering the long distances between parishes," he said.

"Catholics in Siberia often have to use private homes for their services and gatherings. This makes them look like sects in the eyes of many locals. Therefore, the construction of new churches, or chapels at least, is paramount," explained Bishop Klimowicz.

The bishop, a native of Kazakhstan, also attached great importance to the formation of priests.

"Currently, one candidate from my diocese is preparing for the priesthood in the St. Petersburg Seminary. I hope that many other young men from my diocese will follow his example," he said. He added that support from abroad "continues to be indispensable for Siberia's struggling Church."

In February 2002, John Paul II elevated Russia's four apostolic administrations to the rank of dioceses.

At the time, the St. Joseph Diocese was entrusted to Bishop Jerzy Mazur. He was expelled from the country, however, without explanations after the establishment of the Catholic dioceses. In April 2003, the Pope appointed Bishop Klimowicz as a substitute to head the St. Joseph Diocese. Bishop Mazur was appointed lead of the Diocese of Elk, in Poland.
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Vatican official wants greater independence for local churches

Vatican, Dec. 11 (CWNews.com) A leading official of the Roman Curia has said that the Vatican should have "more respect for, and listen to, the local churches."

Although diocesan bishops sometimes complain that the Vatican is not sufficiently responsive to their needs, it is highly unusual for a Curial official to make the same argument. Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, the president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, made his comment in an interview with the Italian magazine, Famiglia Cristiana.

The Japanese cardinal said that the Roman Curia often behave as if their role was "to instruct, to teach, and to correct" local diocesan bishops. In fact, he argued, Vatican officials should understand that their role is "to listen, to help, and to encourage."

As an illustration of what he considers excessive Vatican interference with the work of local churches, the cardinal mentioned the issue of liturgical translations. "No one here knows the Japanese language," he said. "But a text in that language must obtain the approval of the Holy See before it can be used." He argued that local churches should have greater latitude for independent action in pastoral matters.

Cardinal Hamao told Famiglia Cristiana that he would favor convening a new council, in which Church leaders could discuss "the necessity of greater autonomy for the local churches." Synod meetings do not provide an adequate setting for that discussion, he observed, since the synod has only consultative powers.

Numbers of Seminarians Rise Even as Ranks of Priests Fall
Women Religious Also Decrease in 1978-2001 Period

ROME, MAY 11, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Over a 23-year period the number of priests in the world decreased, while the number of seminarians increased.

This is the conclusion of a study by Father Vito Magno of the vocational review Rogate. The study compared the data of the Church's Statistical Yearbook from 1978 with December 2001.

In 1978, the total of diocesan and religious priests was 420,000; at the end of 2001 their number had dropped to 405,067.

The decrease is due above all to the reduced number of religious-order priests, especially in Europe, North America and Oceania, in whose countries the average age of priests has also increased.

The decrease is in contrast to the increase in the number of priests in Africa, Asia and some Latin American countries.

The number of permanent deacons increased to 29,204 from 5,562. This ministry was re-established in the Catholic Church with the Second Vatican Council.

The decrease in the number of priests is in contrast to the increase in the number of seminarians, which has almost doubled. In 1978, there were 63,882 candidates to the priesthood, compared with 112,244 at the end of 2001.

Over the past quarter-century, particularly in Africa, the number of seminarians has multiplied by four and in Asia by five. In Europe, the number has increased to 25,908 at present from 23,915 in 1978.

The study revealed a more complicated situation in regard to women religious. In 1978, they numbered 990,768; now they total 792,317.

As opposed to the case of seminarians, there is no significant growth in the number of women entering novitiates. In this case also, the most notable decrease has been registered in Europe, North America and Oceania.

New book tracks dramatic demographic changes in church since 1900

By Jerry Filteau
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "Global Catholicism," a new book by researchers at the Washington-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, tracks the dramatic shifts of the past century that turned Roman Catholicism from an overwhelmingly European institution a century ago to the world church it is today.

Subtitled "Portrait of a World Church," the 287-page book says that nearly two-thirds of the world's 267 million Catholics in 1900 lived in Europe, but by 2000 European Catholics accounted for little more than one-fourth of the billion-plus Catholics around the world.

While Europe's Catholic population increased by 55 percent over the century, growth elsewhere ranged from a sevenfold increase in the Americas to almost 70-fold in Africa.

In 2000 there were 519 million Catholics in the Americas, 280 million in Europe, 130 million in Africa, 107 million in Asia and 8 million in Oceania, the church's regional designation for Australia and the Pacific islands.

"Global Catholicism" was edited by Brian T. Froehle, CARA's executive director, and Mary L. Gautier, senior research associate. It was published by Orbis Books.

It is part of a series that includes "Catholicism USA: A Portrait of the Catholic Church in the United States," published in 2000, and a projected third volume, "Challenges and Opportunities: Catholicism in the 21st Century."

A substantial portion of the book on the world church is a 115-page appendix profiling the statistical state of the church in each country around the world in the year 2000: the number of Catholics and Catholic dioceses, parishes, priests, permanent deacons, seminarians, religious, catechists, lay missionaries, schools, seminaries, hospitals, other charitable institutions and sacramental statistics. General demographic information on each country is also given as a context for the Catholic data.

Following a global overview chapter that compares church data from 1900, 1950 and 2000, most of the remainder of the book, treating such data by region and country, focuses on church demographics, personnel and institutions in 2000 and how such data changed between 1950 and 2000 or between1975 and 2000.

It notes, for example, that in 1950 Europe had 49 percent of the world's Catholics but 76 percent of the church's priests and 64 percent of its seminarians. In 2000 Europe accounted for 27 percent of Catholics and still had 52 percent of the world's priests, but only 24 percent of the seminarians.

By contrast, Africa, which had 3 percent of the world's Catholics, priests and seminarians in 1950, grew by 2000 to 7 percent of the Catholics, 12 percent of the priests and 18 percent of the seminarians.

Perennially priest-poor Latin America gained some ground statistically in a half-century but not enough to close its gap. In 1950 it had 33 percent of the world's Catholics but only 9 percent of the priests and 11 percent of the seminarians. In 2000 it had 42 percent of the Catholics, 15 percent of the priests and 28 percent of the seminarians.

Catholics form only a small minority of Asia's 3.7 billion people, but Catholic statistics have advanced more rapidly there in the past 50 years than in Europe or the Americas. In 1950 Asia had 6 percent of the world's Catholics and 5 percent of the priests and seminarians. In 2000 it had 10 percent of the Catholics and priests and 24 percent of the seminarians.

The United States and Canada -- "North America" with Mexico excluded as part of Latin America -- had 8 percent of the Catholics, 6 percent of the priests and 16 percent of the seminarians in 1950. In 2000 it had 7 percent of the Catholics and 15 percent of the priests, but only 5 percent of the seminarians.

Despite its relatively higher proportion of the world's priests in 2000 in comparison with 1950, the ratio of Catholics to priests shrank in North America during those five decades. In 1950, there was one priest for every 619 Catholics in the United States and Canada; in 2000, there was only one priest for every 1,321 Catholics in that region.

While the total number of Catholics around the world more than doubled between 1950 and 2000 -- from 437 million to 1.045 billion -- the number of priests serving them grew only 11 percent, from about 364,000 to about 405,000.

Worldwide, in 1950 there was one priest for every 1,203 Catholics; in 2000 that had dropped to one priest for every 2,579 Catholics.

The size of the average parish in Latin America in 2000 was nearly 15,000 Catholics -- about triple the world average of nearly 4,800 Catholics per parish. In the United States and Canada, the average parish in 2000 had to serve slightly more than 3,100 Catholics, and in Europe, fewer than 2,200 Catholics.

Gautier said she thought the new book will be "useful for the press and for anybody who's interested in Catholic trends -- academics, diocesan people, people interested in mission."

- - -

Editor's Note: "Global Catholicism" by Bryan T. Froehle and Mary L. Gautier costs $30 plus $5 postage and handling. It may be ordered by mail from: Orbis Books, Dept. WEB, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545; by fax at: (914) 941-7005; or on the Internet at: www.maryknollmall.org.

Church In Siberia Takes Step Backward From Freedoms Of Czarist Russia

IRKUTSK, Russia (CNS) -- In the very heart of this sprawling city of 650,000, near the seat of regional government and next to two of the city's most beautiful Russian Orthodox churches stands a brick Gothic structure -- originally a Roman Catholic church built in 1887. The Catholic Church's prized location says much about the good standing of the faith back then, even when Russian Orthodoxy was the official religion funded and controlled by the czarist government. Now, when Russia is a democracy, the local Catholic community cannot reclaim the original church that was seized and closed by Communist authorities in 1938. The building functions as a concert hall, with a small section in the basement carved out as a chapel. Denied full use of the original building by local officials, Bishop Jerzy Mazur of the Siberian Diocese of St. Joseph in Irkutsk dropped Catholics' claims to it and accepted a parcel of land on the other side of town where he constructed a new cathedral, which was dedicated in 2000. These property woes are evidence of how, in some respects, the Catholic Church enjoyed more religious freedom under the czarist autocracy than today's democracy, said Divine Savior Father Ignacy Pawlus, a Polish monk who arrived in 1991 and is the longest-serving Catholic priest in Irkutsk.

Religious Freedom Elusive In Much Of Asia
Islamic Countries Also Prominent in Annual U.S. Report

WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 3, 2001 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. State Department's third annual "International Religious Freedom Report" singles out a number of Asian countries, including, not surprisingly, Afghanistan.

The introduction to the report states that its purpose "is to advance the U.S. policy of promoting religious freedom internationally -- to speak for that freedom in the world." The report covers the period July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2001.

The countries singled out for strongest criticism are those defined as "totalitarian and authoritarian regimes" that seek a monopoly of ideas.

Taking On the Taliban

The Taliban in Afghanistan are blamed for "a marked deterioration of religious freedom" due to the rigid enforcement of Shariah, or Islamic law. The report cites the repression of minority Shiites, the destruction of the two giant Buddhist statues, and the prohibition against religious activity by non-Muslims.

Burma is another Asian country singled out for its totalitarian government. The report accuses Burmese authorities of imposing restrictions by means of infiltrating the meetings and activities of religious organizations. The regime has also blocked efforts by the Buddhist clergy to promote human rights and political freedom.

In China, religious freedom has worsened, the report says. Authorities were particularly repressive in their treatment of the Falun Gong movement and Tibetan Buddhist monks.

In some areas, underground Catholic churches loyal to Rome as well as Protestant "house churches" were subject to more-frequent raids and persecution. Authorities cracked down on unregistered churches, and threatened extortion, detention and demolition of property.

Laos and Vietnam were chastised too. The Laotian government, the U.S. report said, forced hundreds of Christians to sign renunciations of their faith, and it closed down more than 65 churches.

Vietnam repressed groups that lack official recognition, and kept restrictions on the hierarchies and clergy of groups that are approved. Vietnam "continued to limit the numbers of ordinations to the clergy, the publication of religious materials, and educational and humanitarian activities," the report said. The state also controls the groups by means of political evaluations of their leadership and of would-be priests and monks.

In North Korea, the panorama is still one of widespread persecution. The U.S. State Department report noted, "Religious and human rights groups outside the country provided numerous reports that members of underground churches have been beaten, arrested or killed because of their religious beliefs."

Independent confirmation of these allegations is hard to find, but "the collective weight of anecdotal evidence of harsh treatment of unauthorized religious activity lends credence to such reports," the report said.

Outside Asia, Cuba was singled out for its restrictions. This involves efforts by the Ministry of Interior that include "infiltration, surveillance and harassment of religious groups." The government rarely authorizes permits for the construction of new churches, forcing many of the faithful to seek permits to meet in private homes. Obtaining a permit and buying materials to repair existing churches continues to be a lengthy and expensive process.

Islamic countries

The report devotes a section to how some governments persecute minority religions. In this group there are a number of Islamic nations. Iran is criticized for provoking anti-Bahai and anti-Jewish sentiment for political purposes. "Bahais, Jews, Christians, Mandaeans and Sufi Muslims reported imprisonment, harassment or intimidation based on their religious beliefs," the U.S. report affirmed.

In Iraq, where Sunni Arabs dominate economic and political life, the government systematically discriminates against Shiites, "severely restricting or banning many Shi'a religious practices." The authorities are accused of having carried out for decades "a brutal campaign of murder, summary execution, arbitrary arrest, and protracted detention against the Shi'a religious leaders and adherents."

In Pakistan, where last Sunday a group of Christians were massacred while worshipping in a Catholic church, the government is said to have failed to protect the rights of minorities. Minorities are consigned to a separate electoral system and frequently become the unfair targets of blasphemy laws, the U.S. report charged.

Saudi Arabia doesn't fare much better. "Freedom of religion does not exist in Saudi Arabia," the report said flatly. All citizens are required to be Muslims, and public manifestations of non-Muslim religions are prohibited. Even private non-Muslim worship often comes under persecution. Authorities do not allow clergy to enter the country to conduct non-Muslim religious services.

Sudan is another Islamic regime accused of restricting religious activities, particularly of Christians and traditional indigenous faiths. Visas for foreign Catholic priests are renewed with difficulty, notes the report, and "non-Muslims are treated as second-class citizens."

Two former Soviet republics in Central Asia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, also draw the report's attacks. In Turkmenistan, the government required all religions to register, but in fact has only allowed Sunni Islam and Russian Orthodoxy to sign up. In Uzbekistan, authorities have continued a "harsh campaign against unauthorized Islamic groups."

Less-serious offenses

A number of other states are accused of doing too little to avoid violations of religious freedom instigated by private groups or local officials.

Among this class of offenders is Egypt, where Christians and Jews have suffered difficulties. In India, the central government is blamed for occasionally being ineffective in ensuring religious freedom. Notable is a lack of action against Hindu extremist groups who attack minorities.

The government of Indonesia, meanwhile, is judged "incapable of controlling religious extremism or preventing the violence perpetrated and encouraged by radical groups claiming to represent certain religious views." The report mentions in particular killings and forced conversions in the Moluccas, and the introduction of some parts of Islamic law in Aceh Province.

Nigeria draws criticism for its troublesome Muslim-Christian relations. The introduction of Shariah in a number of northern states has heightened tensions.

Not all is negative. The report detects progress in Mexico, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Hungary, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mozambique, Peru, Poland, Russia and Rwanda. The appeal of religious freedom, it seems, remains strong.

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ASIA HAS 10.4% OF THE CATHOLICS OF THE WORLD
Annuario Pontificio 2001 Presented at Vatican

VATICAN CITY, APR. 9, 2001 (Zenit.org).- From 1998 to 1999 Catholics worldwide increased by 16 million, according to data made public today at the presentation of the Annuario Pontificio 2001.

For the first time, the pontifical yearbook can be purchased on Internet.

The volume, which was given to John Paul II during a ceremony, has been enlarged and offers Church statistics up to Jan. 1, 2000.

Among the data:

--Catholics in the world increased from 1.022 billion in 1998 to 1.038 billion in 1999, an increase of 1.6%. World population grew by 1.4% during the same time.

--Catholics' share of the world population remains essentially unchanged at 17.4%.

--The American continent has about half the world's Catholics, while Europe has 27.3%. Africa has 12%; Asia, 10.4%; and Oceania, 0.8%.

--There are 3.86 million people dedicated to the apostolate, including 2.44 million catechists. There are 4,482 bishops, 405,009 priests (of whom 265,012 are diocesan), 26,629 permanent deacons, 55,428 religious who are not priests, 809,351 professed nuns, 31,049 members of secular institutes, and 80,662 lay missionaries.

--The total number of priests increased by 383 in 1999. There are 810 more diocesan priests, but 427 fewer priests in religious orders.

--Europe has 52% of the world's priests -- 80% more than America. Asia has 10% of the world's priests; Africa, 6.6%; and Oceania, 1.2%.

--The number of students of philosophy and theology in diocesan seminaries and those of religious orders has increased by 0.7%, from 109,230 in 1998 to 110,021 in 1999.

--In 1999, 33% of candidates for the priesthood were Americans, 25% European, 23% Asian, 18% African, and 1% Oceanian.

The presentation note of the Annuario Pontificio said that the Vatican last year established diplomatic relations with Bahrain and Djibouti, bringing to 174 the number of states with which it maintains diplomatic relations. An apostolic delegation was established in Botswana.

The yearbook lists the creation of 22 new episcopal sees, 1 apostolic exarchate, 1 military diocese, 2 apostolic vicariates, 2 prefectures, 1 apostolic administration, 2 "sui iuris" missions, and 7 new metropolitan sees.

The volume mentions the creation of 44 new cardinals, as the collection of data closed Feb. 28.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH STATISTICS

October 20^th 2000: Rome (Fides) – In this year of the Great Jubilee 2000, we can look at the statistics of the Catholic Church to draw a picture of the results of 20 centuries of evangelization and follow the evolution of the situation as we enter the new millennium.

The tables given below are figures from 1998 with a comparison with those of 1997:

Continents

Population

Variations

Catholics

Variations

WORLD 1997

1998

5.820.767.000

5.855.623.000

+ 80.677.000

+ 34.856.000

1.005.254.000

1.018.257.000

+ 10.126.000

+ 13.003.000

Africa 1997

1998

756.896.000

748.612.000

+ 14.978.000

- 8.284.000

112.871.000

116.664.000

+ 3.600.000

+ 3.793.000

America 1997

1998

788.153.000

799.804.000

+ 7.006.000

+ 11.651.000

495.756.000

504.787.000

+ 4.591.000

+ 9.031.000

Asia 1997

1998

3.562.142.000

3.592.965.000

+ 59.241.000

+ 30.823.000

105.294.000

105.742.000

+ 2.064.000

+ 448.000

Europe 1997

1998

684.421.000

684.384.000

- 874.000

- 37.000

283.313.000

283.023.000

- 102.000

- 29.000

Oceania 1997

1998

29.155.000

29.858.000

+ 326.000

+ 703.000

8.020.000

8.041.000

- 27.000

+ 21.000

According to the Church’s Book of Statistics, at the end of 1998 the world population was 5.855.623.000 with an increase 1997-1998 of 34.856.000 compared to the previous year. The increase from 1996-1997 was 80.677.000. It should also be remembered that in October 1999, world population reached the 6 billion mark. The population increase in 1998 is 45.821.000 less than in 1997.

The global increase of 34.856.000 is distributed by continent as follows: 30.823.000 in Asia, 11.651.000 in America, and 703.000 in Oceania. Whereas there was a decrease of 8.284.000 in Africa and of 37.000 in Europe.

At the same date the number of Catholics was 1.018.257.000, with an increase of 13.003.000 compared with 1997; distributed as follows by continent: increase of 9.031.000 in America, of 3.793.000 in Africa, and 448.000 in Asia; decrease of 21.000 in Oceania and 29.000 in Europe

Continents

Percentage des Catholics

Variations

Ecclesiastical Circumscriptions

Variations

WORLD 1997

1998

17,27%

17,40%

- 0,07%

+ 0,13%

2.789

2.806

+ 13

+ 17

Africa 1997

1998

14,91%

15,60%

+ 0,18%

+ 0,69%

474

479

+ 5

+ 5

America 1997

1998

62,90%

63,10%

+ 0,02%

+ 0,20%

1.034

1.037

+ 3

+ 3

Asia 1997

1998

2,96%

2,90%

+ 0,01%

- 0,06%

484

491

+ 5

+ 7

Europe 1997

1998

41,39%

41,40%

+ 0,03%

+ 0,01%

720

722

= =

+ 2

Oceania 1997

1998

27,54%

27,00%

- 0,40%

- 0,54%

= =

= =

The percentage of Catholics in the world increased by 0,13% ; by continent, the situation is the following: an increase of 0,69% in Africa, 0,01% in Europe, 0,20 in America; but, a decrease of 0,06% in Asia de 0,54% in Oceania.

Continents

Persons per priest

Variations

Catholics per priest

Variations

WORLD 1997

1998

11.270

11.321

+ 48

+ 51

2.487

2.517

+ 26

+ 20

Africa 1997

1998

29.942

28.764

- 121

- 1.178

4.465

4.483

+ 37

+ 18

America 1997

1998

6.567

6.649

+ 62

+ 82

4.131

4.196

+ 41

+ 65

Asia 1997

1998

56.781

53.917

- 1.591

- 2.864

2.604

2.551

- 16

- 53

Europe 1997

1998

3.207

3.231

+ 21

+ 24

1.328

1.336

+ 10

+ 8

Oceania 1997

1998

5.883

5.948

+ 240

+ 65

1.580

1.602

+ 5

+ 22

The number of persons per priest increased altogether in the world by 51%; by continent the situation is as follows: increase of 24 in Europe, 65 in Oceania, 82 in America; but a decrease of 1.178 in Africa, and 2.864 in Asia

The number of Catholics per priest increased altogether in the world by 20%; by continent the situation is as follows: increase of 8 in Europe, 22 in Oceania, 65 in America; but a decrease of 121 in Africa, and decrease of 53 in Asia

BISHOPS
(in brackets variations compared with the previous year)

Continents

Total

Secular

Religious

Native

Foreign

WORLD 1997

1998

4.420 (+ 45)

4.439 (+ 19)

3.299 (+ 49)

3.324 (+ 25)

1.121 (- 4)

1.115 (- 6)

3.707 (+ 43)

3.720 (+ 13)

713 (+ 2)

719 (+ 6)

Africa 1997

1998

562 (+ 18)

575 (+ 13)

410 (+ 8)

414 (+ 4)

152 (+ 10)

161 (+ 9)

435 (+ 12)

441 (+ 14)

127 (+ 6)

134 (+ 7)

America 1997

1998

1.659 (+13)

1.672 (+ 13)

1.133 (+ 20)

1.147 (+ 14)

526 (- 7)

525 (- 1)

1.354 (+ 17)

1.365 (+ 11)

305 (- 4)

307 (+ 2)

Asia 1997

1998

617 (+ 15)

617 (=)

442 (+ 16)

446 (+ 4)

175 (- 1)

171 (- 4)

528 (+ 18)

531 (+ 3)

89 (- 3)

86 (- 3)

Europe 1997

1998

1.464 (=)

1.459 (-5)

1.236 (+ 4)

1.240 (+ 4)

228 (- 4)

219 (-9)

1.312 (- 5)

1.307 (- 5)

152 (+ 5)

152 (=)

Oceania 1997

1998

118 (- 1)

116 (- 2)

78 (+ 1)

77 (- 1)

40 (- 2)

39 (- 1)

78 (+ 1)

76 (- 2)

40 (- 2)

40 (=)

PRIESTS
(in brackets variations compared with the previous year)

Continents

Total

Diocesans

Religious

WORLD 1997

1998

404.208 (- 128)

404.626 (+ 418)

263.521 (+ 622)

264.202 (+ 681)

140.687 (- 750)

140.424 (- 263)

Africa 1997

1998

25.279 (+ 600)

26.026 (+ 747)

14.873 (+ 749)

15.535 (+ 662)

10.406 (- 149)

10.491 (+ 85)

America 1997

1998

120.013 (- 69)

120.297 (+ 284)

73.495 (+ 509)

74.039 (+ 544)

46.518 (- 578)

46.258 (- 260)

Asia 1997

1998

40.441 (+ 1.037)

41.456 (+ 1.015)

23.789 (+ 714)

24.337 (+ 548)

16.652 (+ 323)

17.119 (+ 467)

Europe 1997

1998

213.398 (- 1.664)

211.827 (- 1.571)

148.595 (- 1.306)

147.517 (- 1.078)

64.803 (- 358)

64.310 (- 493)

Oceania 1997

1998

5.077 (- 32)

5.020 (- 57)

2.769 (- 44)

2.774 (+ 5)

2.308 (+ 12)

2.246 (- 62)

The number of Priests in the world increased by 418: while the number of Religious priests dropped by 263, the number diocesan priests increased by 681. By continents, the situation is as follows: increase 1.015 in Asia (+ 548 diocesan, + 467 religious), of 747 in Africa (+ 662 diocesan, + 85 religious) ; de 284 in America (+ 544 diocesan, - 260 religious); decrease 1.571 in Europe (- 1.078 diocesan, - 493 Religious), 57 in Oceania (+ 5 diocesan, - 62 religious).

BROTHERS, SISTERS, CATECHISTS
(in brackets variations compared with the previous year)

Continents

Brothers

Sisters

Catechists

WORLD 1997

1998

58.210 (- 757)

57.813 (- 403)

819.278 (- 9.382)

814.779 (- 4.499)

2.019.021 (+ 434.388)

2.298.387 (+ 279.366)

Africa 1997

1998

7.083 (+ 97)

7.025 (- 58)

49.854 (+ 1.161)

51.304 (+ 1.450)

329.775 (+ 4.926)

343.085 (+ 13.310)

America 1997

1998

17.426 (- 317)

16.990 (- 436)

240.858 (- 4.064)

237.504 (- 3.354)

1.071.707 (+ 330.638)

1.258.836 (+ 87.129)

Asia 1997

1998

7.274 (+ 119)

7.764 (+ 510)

127.969 (+ 1.664)

134.035 (+ 6.066)

188.985 (+ 5.686)

226.500 (+ 37.515)

Europe 1997

1998

24.460 (- 538)

24.097 (- 363)

388.693 (- 8.175)

380.309 (- 8.384)

399.485 (+ 76.727)

455.481 (+ 55.996)

Oceania 1997

1998

1.967 (- 118)

1.937(- 30)

11.904 (+ 32)

11.627 (- 277)

29.069 (+ 16.411)

14.485 (- 14.584)

The number of Brothers decreased altogether by 403. By continents the situation is as follows: increase: 510 in Asia; decrease: 436 in America, 363 in Europe, 58 in Africa, 30 in Oceania. The number of Sisters shows a marked total decrease of 4.499. By continents the situation is as follows: increase : 6.066 in Asia, 1.450 in Africa; decrease: 8.364 in Europe, 3.354 in America and 277 in Oceania

The number Catechists in the world increased by 279.366.

SEMINARIANS
(in brackets variations compared with the previous year)

Continents

Major Seminarians

Variations

Minor Seminarians

Variations

WORLD 1997

1998

108.017

109.171

+ 3.147

+ 1.154

106.210

104.857

- 2.741

- 1.353

Africa 1997

1998

19.078

19.654

+ 922

+ 576

43.469

42.306

+ 2.185

- 1.163

America 1997

1998

34.947

36.071

+ 1.904

+ 1.124

22.425

21.393

- 2.123

- 1.132

Asia 1997

1998

25.342

25.481

+ 173

+ 139

22.329

23.847

- 1.074

+ 1.518

Europe 1997

1998

27.853

27.154

- 788

- 699

17.541

16.916

- 1.720

- 625

Oceania 1997

1998

797

811

- 64

+ 14

446

395

- 9

- 51

The number of major seminarians increased altogether by 1.154. By continents the situation is as follows: increase 1.124 in America, 576 in Africa, 139 in Asia, and 14 in Oceania; decrease: 699 in Europe.

The number of minor seminarians decreased altogether by 1.353. By continents the situation is as follows: increase, 1.518 in Asia decrease: 1.163 in Africa, 1.132 in America, 625 in Europe and 51 in Oceania.

SCHOOLS, PUPILS and STUDENTS

The Church’s work in education serves altogether 48.457.690 pupils with an increase of 385.763 compared to 1997 (the increase was 884.740 in 1997) not counting numerous students trained at professional schools.

(1998 figures in bold type, allow a comparison with 1997 figures)

Kindergartens Primary Schools Secondary Schools ..High schools…Universities

pupils

Institutes

pupils

Institutes

pupils

Institutes

pupils

students

WORLD

1998

5.112.570

5.221.037

58.224

58.274

25.441.837

25.469.255

86.505

88.930

13.881.909

14.038.182

34.849

35.596

1.411.689

1.589.696

2.033.318

2.109.520

Africa

1998

781.536

829.522

9.867

10.479

9.285.102

9.629.479

29.543

29.824

2.050.080

1.945.865

6.265

6.754

24.093

30.966

27.188

26.987

America

1998

1.117.954

1.226.078

14.786

14.631

7.321.405

7.352.671

22.411

24.052

3.676.894

3.800.983

9.493

9.599

458.231

489.704

1.276.849

1.394.735

Asia

1998

1.373.087

1.324.223

9.700

9.702

4.199.371

4.857.594

13.622

14.391

4.199.371

4.355.740

7.931

8.179

725.905

836.903

474.465

405.271

Europe

1998

1.810.755

1.777.862

23.283

22.916

3.416.138

3.053.330

18.363

18.081

3.614.826

3.583.720

10.425

10.377

196.918

217.518

250.365

276.788

Oceania

1998

29.238

33.352

588

546

552.900

576.181

2.566

2.582

340.738

351.874

735

687

6.542

14.605

4.451

5.739

CHARITABLE INSTITUTES
(1998 figures in bold type, allow a comparison with 1997 figures)

Hospitals

Dispensaries

Leper centres

Homes for the elderly or handicapped

Orphanages

Infant centres

WORLD

1998

5.188

5.215

17.157

16.428

825

823

12.209

12.605

8.246

8.147

11.911

10.666

Africa

1998

808

817

4.191

4.381

372

375

455

504

729

705

1.645

1.634

America

1998

1.864

1.941

5.676

5.632

3.166

3.269

2.280

2.049

5.297

4.231

Asia

1998

1.027

1.001

3.198

3.374

361

349

1.222

1.309

2.968

3.040

2.485

2.620

Europe

1998

1.362

1.326

3.917

2.858

7.092

7.218

2.043

2.127

2.402

2.097

Oceania

1998

127

130

175

183

274

305

226

226

ECCLESIASTIC CIRCUMSCRIPTIONS DIPENDENT ON THE
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

Total number of circumscriptions dependent on Cep to October 12, 2000: 1,049

Continent	AD	D	AT	VA	PA	M	AA	OM	Total
Africa	80	359	-	13	4	1	1	3	461
America	7	30	-	41	5	1	-	-	84
Asia	69	317	1	14	34	5	4	2	446
Europe	4	8	-	-	-	-	1	-	13
Oceania	11	30	-	-	1	2	-	1	45
Total	171	744	1	68	44	9	6	6	1049

Archdioceses (AD); Dioceses (D); Vicariates apostolic (VA); Prefectures apostolic (PA); Missions sui juris (M); Territorial Abbeys (AT); Apostolic Administrations (AA); Military Ordinariates (OM).

Archbishops	155
Bishops	646
Bishops Ap. Administrators of "sede vacante"	2
Apostolic Vicars	73
Apostolic Prefects	12
Superiors of (missions sui juris)	12
Abbots Ordinary	0
Apostolic Administrators	5
Archbishops coadjutor	10
Bishops coadjutor	16
Bishops Auxiliary	73
Archbishop and Bishops emeritus or titular	233

(20/10/2000)

PANORAMA OF RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD
"International Bulletin of Missionary Research USA" – January 2000

	1990	2000	2025 (estimate)
World population	5.266.442.000	6.055.049.000	7.823.703.000

Christians (total)	1.747.462.000	*1.999.566.000*	2.616.670.000
Roman Catholics	929.455.000	1.056.920.000	1.361.965.000
Protestants	296.339.000	342.035.000	468.594.000
Orthodox	203.766.000	215.129.000	252.716.000
Anglicans	68.196.000	79.650.000	113.746.000
Catholics non Roman	5.239.000	6.688.000	9.635.000

Non Christians	3.518.980.000	*4.055.483.000*	5.207.033.000
Muslims	962.356.000	1.188.240.000	1.784.876.000
Hindus	685.999.000	811.337.000	1.049.231.000
Buddhists	323.107.000	359.982.000	418.345.000
Atheists	145.719.000	150.090.000	159.544.000
No religion	707.118.000	768.159.000	875.121.000
New religions	92.396.000	102.356.000	114.720.000
Tribal religions	200.035.000	228.367.000	277.247.000
Sikh	19.332.000	23.258.000	31.378.000
Jews	14.189.000	14.434.000	16.053.000