Vatican Statistics Show Fewer Priests, More Lay Missionaries
The Vatican's missionary news agency, Fides, shared statistics about the Catholic population, church personnel, and their works.
In anticipation of World Mission Sunday on October 19, Fides reported that while the number of Catholic priests and religious continues to decline, the number of lay missionaries, catechists, and permanent deacons continues to increase.
Pope Leo XIV, who served as a missionary in Peru, encouraged all Catholics to mark World Mission Sunday with prayers and financial support for the church's missionary work.
- The number of Catholics in the world was over 1.4 billion as of June 30, 2023, according to Fides.
- This represents an increase of 15.
Author's summary: Vatican statistics reveal a decline in priests and an increase in lay missionaries.