PRESENTATION OF PONTIFICAL YEARBOOK 2002

VATICAN CITY, FEB 9, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano presented the 2002 "Annuario Pontificio," or pontifical yearbook, to the Holy Father in the presence of Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs, and of the officials responsible for compiling and printing the volume.

A communique regarding the presentation highlights some of the salient facts contained in the new yearbook. In 2001, six new episcopal sees were created as well as one apostolic exarchate and two apostolic prefectures. Furthermore, two metropolitan sees and two episcopal sees were elevated.

In a world population of 6,047 million, Catholics represent 1,050 million, 49.4 percent of whom are concentrated in the Americas. The communique indicates that over the last year, 161 bishops have been appointed, bringing their total number to 4.541. There are 405,178 priests (of whom 265,781 are diocesan); 27,824 permanent deacons; 55,057 non-ordained male religious; 801,185 female religious; 30,687 members of secular institutes; 126,365 lay missionaries and 2,641,888 catechists.

Between 1978 and 2000, the number of students of philosophy and theology in diocesan and religious seminaries passed from 63,882 to 110,583. The biggest growth was in Africa where the number of seminarians increased threefold. Asia saw a growth of 125 percent, followed by the Americas with 65 percent and Europe with 12 percent.

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