By Wesley Omondi
NAIROBI, OCTOBER 18, 2024 (CISA) — As the Catholic Church marks the 98th edition of World Mission Sunday on October 20, 2024, recent global statistics reveal that the Church in Africa continues to flourish. According to the latest data from the Church’s Book of Statistics, released by Fides News Agency, the continent remains a vital area of growth for the global Church, with significant increases in the Catholic population.
As of December 31, 2022, Africa’s Catholic population surged by 7.27 million, bringing the total to 272.42 million. This represents a 0.32% rise, with Catholics now constituting 19.7% of the continent’s population. These numbers highlight Africa’s dynamic expansion in the faith and its growing importance within the global Catholic community.
“Africa’s Catholic population is growing at a faster rate than in any other continent. This remarkable growth highlights the vitality and potential of the Church in this region,” the Fides report notes.
Meanwhile, Europe, traditionally seen as a Catholic stronghold, saw a decline of 474,000 Catholics, underscoring the shifting demographics within the Church.
In addition to the increase in faithful, Africa has also witnessed a rise in the number of priests and ecclesiastical structures. The continent recorded an increase of 814 diocesan priests and 862 religious priests, a clear indication of the Church’s commitment to strengthening its spiritual leadership across the region.
Moreover, six new ecclesiastical circumscriptions were established in Africa, extending the Church’s reach to more communities, including those in remote areas. The Catholic Church also continues to enhance social services across the continent, operating thousands of schools, hospitals, and dispensaries that contribute to the social and educational well-being of African nations.
As the Church prepares for the upcoming Ordinary Jubilee, this year’s World Mission Sunday theme, “Go and invite everyone to the banquet,” resonates deeply across Africa, where Catholicism continues to grow and flourish.
While other regions experience stagnation or decline, Africa’s thriving Catholic community points to the evolving global dynamics of the Church, with the future of Catholicism increasingly tied to the vibrant and expanding faith on the continent.
