Global Catholic numbers rise, but Europe faces decline due to scandals and secularism across various nations.
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Globally, Catholicism reached approximately 1.4 billion adherents at the turn of 2022/23, with notable growth in Africa and America, but experiencing decline in Europe. In Poland, there is a significant crisis marked by falling church attendance, fewer baptisms, and declining clergy numbers, alongside increased civil marriages. The Church has faced numerous sexual abuse scandals, with criticism directed at its handling of these cases. Trust in the Catholic Church in Poland has sharply declined from 58% in 2016 to 35.1% in September 2025. In Austria, over 85,000 people left the Church in 2023, and its perceived relevance is diminishing, with many demanding modernization and greater female access to priesthood. The relationship between the Church and state varies across Europe; for instance, in Spain, despite being institutionally secular, Catholicism retains significant social and political influence, though practicing Catholics are decreasing rapidly. France shows a growing number of non-religious individuals, while Lithuania also sees a decline in self-identified Catholics, despite existing agreements with the Holy See. Across various European countries, declining religious adherence is attributed to scandals, globalization, and younger generations adopting more liberal values, leading the Catholic Church toward becoming a more formal tradition.
