What is the religious situation in Spain and what are the tasks for the new evangelization?Enzo PetroniloThere are more than 48,000 deacons and their number is increasing".On the occasion of the 96th World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, October 23rd, 2022, the Fides Agency presents, as usual, some statistics collected to offer a panoramic picture of the missionary Church in the world. The data are taken from the latest "Statistical Yearbook of the Church" and refer to the members of the Church, its pastoral structures and its activities in the fields of health care, assistance and education. The variation, increase (+) or decrease (-) with respect to the previous year is indicated in parentheses.
World population
On December 31, 2020, the world population was 7,667,136,000 people, an increase of 89,359,000 units compared to the previous year. The global increase this year also concerns all continents. The most consistent increases are again in Asia (+39,670,000) and Africa (+37,844,000), followed by America (+8,560,000), Europe (+2,657,000) and Oceania (+628,000).
Number of Catholics and percentage
On the same date, as of December 31, 2020, the number of Catholics was 1,359,612,000, a total increase of 15,209,000 over the previous year. The increase concerns four continents, with the exception of Oceania (-9,000). As in the past, the increase is greatest in Africa (+5,290,000) and the Americas (+6,463,000), followed by Asia (+2,731,000) and Europe (+734,000).
The world percentage of Catholics decreased slightly (-0.01) compared to the previous year, stopping at 17.73%. The continents show small variations, except for Oceania, which remains stable.
Inhabitants and Catholics per priest
The number of inhabitants per priest has also increased this year, by a total of 95 units, reaching a quota of 14,948. The distribution by continent shows increases in Oceania (+349), America (+177) and Europe (+130), while decreases in Africa (-1,784) and Asia (-78).
The number of Catholics per priest has increased by a total of 69 people, reaching 3,314. Increases were recorded on all continents: America (+117), Oceania (+53), Europe (+49), Asia (+15) and Africa (+3).
Bishops, priests and deacons
The number of bishops worldwide is 5,363. The number of diocesan bishops has increased (+22) but the number of religious bishops has decreased (-23). The total number of diocesan bishops is 4,156, while the number of religious bishops is 1,207.
The total number of priests in the world decreased to 410,219 (-4,117). Once again, there was a considerable decrease in Europe (-4,374), America (-1,421) and Oceania (-104). Increases were seen in Africa (+1,004) and Asia (+778).
The permanent deacons worldwide continue to increase, this year by 397 units, reaching 48,635.
Religious and missionaries
The number of non-priest religious has increased by 274 units, reaching a total of 50,569. The trend of an overall decrease in the number of religious sisters is also confirmed, this year by 10,553 units. There are now a total of 619,546.
The number of Lay Missionaries in the world is 413,561, with a global increase of 3,121 units.
Catechists and seminarians
Catechists worldwide have decreased by a total of 190,985 units to 2,883,049.
This year, the number of diocesan and religious major seminarians decreased by 2,203, to 111,855. The increase was recorded only in Africa (+907), while the number decreased in America (-1,261), Asia (-1,168), Europe (-680) and Oceania (-1). Diocesan major seminarians number 67,987 (-622), and religious 43,868 (-1,581).
Charitable institutions
The charitable and assistance institutes administered in the world by the Church include: 5,322 hospitals; 14,415 dispensaries, mostly in Africa (4,956) and America (3,785); 534 leprosaria, mostly in Asia (265) and Africa (210); 15,204 homes for the elderly, chronically ill and disabled, mostly in Europe (7,953); 9,230 orphanages, mostly in Asia (3,201); 10,441 day-care centers, mostly in Asia (2,801) and America (2,816); 10,441 day-care centers, mostly in Asia (2,801) and America (2,816).953); 9,230 orphanages mostly in Asia (3,201); 10,441 nurseries with the largest number in Asia (2,801) and America (2,816); 10,362 marriage clinics, largely in Europe (5,279) and America (2,604); 3,137 education or social re-education centers and 34,291 institutions of other types.
