Worldwide surge in priestly vocations continues

March 13, 2012

The worldwide surge in the number of seminarians that began during the papacy of Blessed John Paul II (1978-2005) is continuing under Pope Benedict.

According to the newly released Annuario Pontificio, the number of major seminarians worldwide rose to 118,990 in 2010--an increase of 86.3% since 1978, when there were 63,882 major seminarians.

Between 1978 and 2010, the number of Catholics rose from 757 million to 1.196 billion (a 58% increase), while world population rose from 4.3 billion to 6.9 billion (a 60.5% increase).

 

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Further information:

• Pope Benedict XVI receives 2012 Annuario Pontificio (Vatican Radio)
• World's Catholic population up 1.5% (CWN, 3/12)