Back الرومانية الكاثوليكية في تشيلي Arabic Römisch-katholische Kirche in Chile German Iglesia católica en Chile Spanish Gereja Katolik di Chili ID Chiesa cattolica in Cile Italian Katholieke Kerk in Chili Dutch Kościół katolicki w Chile Polish Igreja Católica no Chile Portuguese Romersk-katolska kyrkan i Chile Swedish Католицька церква в Чилі Ukrainian
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 Catholic Church in Chile | |
|---|---|
 The first Mass celebrated in Chile, by Pedro Subercaseaux | |
| Classification | Catholic Church |
| Orientation | Latin |
| Scripture | Holy Bible |
| Theology | Catholic theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Governance | CECH |
| Pope | Francis |
| President | Fernando Chomalí Garib |
| Apostolic Nuncio | Alberto Ortega Martín |
| Region | Chile |
| Language | Spanish, Latin |
| Founder | Rodrigo González de Marmolejo |
| Members | 8,236,900 (2012) |
| Official website | iglesia.cl |
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The Catholic Church in Chile is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and the Episcopal Conference of Chile.
The Church is composed of 5 archdioceses, 18 dioceses, 2 territorial prelatures, 1 apostolic vicariate, 1 military ordinariate and a personal prelature (Opus Dei). The government observes the following Catholic Holy Days as national holidays (if on a week day): Good Friday, Christmas, Feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Feast of the Assumption, and All Saints Day.
The Catholic Church in Chile has had a complex relationship with the Chilean state, particularly during the latter half of the 20th century, with the government of Salvador Allende and the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The influence of liberation theology and political ideologies also contributed to internal disagreements and changing Church attitudes.
In 2012, 66.6%[1] of Chilean population over 15 years of age claimed to be of Catholic creed – a decrease from the 70% reported by the 2002 census.[2] A report in 2021 indicated that this number had further declined to 42%, a record low.(Encuesta Nacional Bicentenario 2021)[3] The Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Chile, especially Karadima case which came to light in 2010 and led to Karadima's conviction in 2011, had a strongly negative influence on Chilean public opinion of the Church.[4] Chilean trust in the Catholic Church plummeted from 61% in 2010 to 38% in 2011, and 36% in 2017; the lowest of any Latin American country.[4] The percentage of Chileans who called themselves Catholic also steadily decreased from 73% in 2007 to 45% in 2017.[4]
- ^ 8 236 900 out of 12 366 108 people over 15 years of age. "Population 15 years of age or older, by religion, region, sex and age groups. (censused population)". Censo 2012 (in Spanish). Archived from the original (.xls) on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ 7 853 428 out of 11 226 309 people over 15 years of age. "Population 15 years of age or older, by religion, administrative division, sex and age groups" (.pdf). Censo 2002 (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ "Encuesta Nacional Bicentenario 2021: Religión"
- ^ a b c "Cifra de chilenos que se declaran católicos bajó de 73% a 45% en la última década". 24Horas.cl (in Spanish). 12 January 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2022.