Vatican offers of statistical sketch Church in Lebanon

September 06, 2012

As Pope Benedict XVI prepares for his September 14-16 visit to Lebanon, the Vatican has released some official statistics on the Church in that country.

Just over half (54%) of Lebanon’s people are Catholics: 2.15 million out of a total population of 4.04 million. There are 53 bishops in Lebanon serving 24 dioceses and other ecclesiastical entities. There are 1,543 priests serving in 1,165 parishes and pastoral centers, with 462 men training for the priesthood; 2,797 male and female religious; and 2,784 catechists and lay missionaries.

The 907 Catholic schools in Lebanon provide instruction for 427,180 children. The Church also administers 30 hospitals, 168 clinics, 39 homes for the aged or disabled, 63 orphanages and nurseries, 22 family-counseling centers, and 28 other charitable institutions.

 

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Further information:

• Statistics for the Catholic Church in Lebanon (VIS)