PRESENTATION OF 2001 PONTIFICAL YEARBOOK

VATICAN CITY, APR 9, 2001 (VIS) - This morning Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano presented the 2001 edition of the "Annuario Pontificio" (Pontifical Yearbook) to the Holy Father, in the presence of Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs, and those who collaborated in the editing and publication of the volume.

A note about the presentation described various changes to the updated Yearbook, including an expanded format. In the year 2000 the Holy See established diplomatic relations with the State of Bahrain and the Republic of Djibouti, bringing the number of States with which normal diplomatic relations are held to 174. Furthermore, an apostolic delegation was erected in Botswana, 22 new episcopal sees, an apostolic esarchate, a military ordinariate, 2 apostolic vicariates, 2 prefectures, one apostolic administration, and 2 "sui iuris" missions, were created, and 7 metropolitan sees were elevated. Finally, 44 new cardinals were created.

From 1998 to 1999 the number of Catholics in the world increased from 1,022,000 to 1,038,000. In the communique it is noted that in the last year 222 new bishops have been appointed, raising the total number of bishops to 4,482. There were 405,009 priests (of which 265,012 were diocesan), 26,629 permanent deacons, 55,428 men religious not ordained priests, 809,351 professed women religious, 31,049 members of Secular Institutes, 80,662 lay missionaries, and 2,449,659 catechists.

AP;PONTIFICAL YEARBOOK 2001;...;SODANO; SANDRI ;VIS;20010409;Word: 210;