Diocesan Resources
Papal Transition 2013: International Concerns of the Catholic Church (2013)
Backgrounder on the Papal Transition 2013 prepared by the Office of Media Relations
International Concerns of the Catholic Church
Restrictions on religion are growing with 75 percent of the world’s population living in countries where governments or societies restrict people’s ability to practice their faith, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. While many religious groups face persecution, Christians are harassed in the greatest number of countries (111 out of 193). Aid to the Church in Need estimates 150,000 Christians die each year “either out of hatred for the faith or for hatred of the virtues and works of charity inspired by the faith.” The number of Christians forced to leave countries because of war (Iraq, Syria) or rapid political change (Egypt, Palestine, Iran) is high. Bethlehem, a place that was 80 percent Christian, is now 33 percent Christian.