STATISTICS ABOUT THE CHURCH IN CANADA, GUATEMALA AND MEXICO

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office published statistics about the Catholic Church in the three countries that the Holy Father will visit from July 23 to August 2: Canada, Guatemala and Mexico. The main reason for this apostolic trip is the celebration of World Youth Day and the canonization of Blesseds Pedro de San Jose de Betancur and Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin.

Canada, which the Pope visited in 1984 and in 1987, has a population of 30,750,000, of which 13,453,000 are Catholics, 43.75 % of the total population. There are 137 bishops, 9,832 priests, 26,171 religious and 985 seminarians.

On the second leg of his trip, John Paul II will visit Guatemala for the third time during his pontificate. He previously visited the country in 1983 and 1996. Guatemala has 11,390,000 inhabitants. The 9,471,000 Catholics represent 83.15% of the population. There are 21 bishops, 970 priests, 2,242 religious and 967 seminarians.

The Pope will then travel to Mexico. This will be his fifth time in the country following trips in 1979, 1990, 1993 and 1999. Mexico has 97,020,000 inhabitants, with 89,664,000 Catholics who constitute 92.42% of the total population. There are 132 bishops, 14,049 priests, 30,320 religious and 12,192 seminarians.

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