Catholicism Has Declined in Latin America Over the Past Decade
Growing numbers of Latin Americans are religiously unaffiliated, but belief in God remains high across the region.
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Growing numbers of Latin Americans are religiously unaffiliated, but belief in God remains high across the region.
A majority of adults still identify with their childhood religion, but 35% don’t. Read about when and why Americans may switch faiths or stay.
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination.
After years of decline, the U.S. Christian share now shows signs of leveling off. The new Religious Landscape Study explores trends in identity, beliefs and practices.
At least 80% of Catholics have expressed a favorable opinion of Pope Francis in 10 of the 15 U.S. surveys in which we have asked about the pope since 2013.
Views vary on other ideas, such as recognizing same-sex marriages. Most see Pope Francis as a change in the church’s direction, and he’s broadly popular.
Pope Francis is broadly popular in much of Latin America and the U.S., but favorability has fallen in the Latin American countries surveyed.
Most say Francis represents change in the church. And many say the church should allow priests to marry and let Catholics use birth control.
71% of Hispanic Catholics see climate change as an extremely or very serious problem, compared with 49% of White, non-Hispanic Catholics.
There are 135 cardinals who are eligible to vote in the coming papal election, and a plurality (40%) are from Europe. That’s down from 51% in 2013.
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