STATISTICS FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SPAIN

VATICAN CITY, 29 OCT 2010 (VIS) - For the occasion of Benedict XVI's apostolic trip to the Spanish cities of Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona, due to take place on 6 and 7 November, statistics have been published concerning the Catholic Church in that country. The information, updated to 31 December 2009, comes from the Central Statistical Office of the Church.

  Spain has a surface area of 505,992 square kilometres and a population of 45,929,000 of whom 42,470,000 (92.5 percent) are Catholic. There are 70 ecclesiastical circumscriptions and 22,674 parishes. Currently there are 124 bishops, 24,849 priests, 54,599 religious, 2,786 lay members of secular institutes and 101,261 catechists. Minor seminarians number 1,943 and major seminarians 1,963.

  A total of 1,596,429 students attend 5,585 centres of Catholic education, from kindergartens to universities. Other institutions belonging to the Church or run by priests or religious in Spain include 93 hospitals, 72 clinics, 788 homes for the elderly or disabled, 435 orphanages and nurseries, 301 family counselling centres and other pro-life centres, 3,036 centres for education and social rehabilitation, and 400 institutions of other kinds.
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BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 29 OCT 2010 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for November is: "That victims of drugs or of other dependence may, thanks to the support of the Christian community, find in the power of our saving God strength for a radical life-change".

  His mission intention is: "That the Churches of Latin America may move ahead with the continent-wide mission proposed by their bishops, making it part of the universal missionary task of the People of God".
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 29 OCT 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

 - Archbishop Giovanni d'Aniello, apostolic nuncio to Thailand and Cambodia, and apostolic delegate to Myanmar and Laos.

 - Eight prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Jose Belisario da Silva O.F.M. of Sao Luis de Maranhao.

    - Bishop Armando Martin Gutierrez of Bacabal F.A.M., accompanied by Bishop emeritus Henrique Johanpotter O.F.M.

    - Bishop Enemesio Angelo Lazzaris F.D.P. of Balsas.

    - Bishop Jose Valdeci Santos Mendes of Brejo.

    - Bishop Jose Soares Filho O.F.M. Cap. of Carolina.

    - Bishop Vilson Basso S.C.J. of Caxias do Maranhao, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Luis D'Andrea O.F.M. Conv.

 - Participants in a congress promoted by the "Romano Guardini" Foundation of Berlin, Germany.

  This evening he is scheduled to receive in separate audiences seven prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, on their "ad limina" visit:

    - Bishop Sebastiao Bandeira Coelho, coadjutor of Coroata.

    - Bishop Franco Cuter O.F.M. Cap. of Grajau, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Serafino Faustino Spreafico O.F.M. Cap.

    - Bishop Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira of Imperatriz.

    - Bishop Ricardo Pedro Paglia M.S.C. of Pinheiro.

    - Bishop Xavier Gilles de Maupeou d'Ableiges, emeritus of Viana.

    - Bishop Carlos Ellena of Ze Doca.
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NOTICE

VATICAN CITY, 29 OCT 2010 (VIS) - We would like to remind our readers that there will be no VIS bulletin on Monday 1 November or Tuesday 2 November, respectively All Saints Day and All Souls Day, and holidays in the Vatican. Service will resume on Wednesday 3 November.
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