Sarah Mitchell
Iran is not a hub of Catholicism, with Catholics accounting for less than 1% of the population. However, the Catholic Church has a long history with the Persians. In 1318, the Catholic Church established the diocese of Soltaniyeh, which lasted until 1355. In 2022, there were about 21,380 Catholics in Iran out of a total population of about 86.8 million. They are part of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Latin Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in Iran | 21,380 (2022) / 21,000 (2022) / 117,700 (2016) / 579,000 (2020) / 1,000,000 (2020) / 1,240,000 (2020) |
| Percentage of Catholics in Iran | Less than 1% |
| Number of Priests | 5 (2020) |
| Number of Nuns | 12 (2020) |
| Number of Parishes | 17 (2020) |
| Number of Cathedrals | 6 |
| Types of Catholic Churches in Iran | Armenian Catholic Church, Chaldean Catholic Church, Latin Church |
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What You'll Learn
Iran is one of the least Catholic countries in the world
The Catholic presence in Iran has a long history with the Persians. In 1318, the Catholic Church established the diocese of Soltaniyeh, which lasted until 1355. It wasn't until the 16th century that Catholicism returned to the country when a group of Augustinian hermits established themselves on Hormuz Island, which had been captured by the Portuguese in 1507. Despite the small number of Catholics in Iran, there are six different cathedrals in the country. This includes the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Tehran, which is part of the Chaldean Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tehran, and the Cathedral of St. Mary the Mother of God in Urmia, which is part of the Chaldean Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Urmyā.
Christians, including Catholics, are officially recognized by the Iranian government as a religious minority and permitted to worship. However, their churches are closely monitored, and their rights are heavily restricted. It is illegal to distribute Bibles in the local language of Farsi or to proselytize. Human rights groups say the government has a history of arresting or executing religious minorities and protestors, charging them with offences such as blasphemy and “enmity against God”.
The exact number of Catholics in Iran is difficult to determine due to significant migration and instability in the country. However, the U.S. State Department estimated 21,000 Roman Catholics in Iran in 2022, which is consistent with other estimates.
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Catholics in Iran are part of the Armenian Catholic Church
Iran has a long history with the Catholic Church, dating back to the establishment of the diocese of Soltaniyeh in 1318. In 2022, there were approximately 21,380 Catholics in Iran out of a total population of about 86.8 million. These Catholics are part of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Latin Church.
The Armenian Catholic Church has a significant presence in Iran, with about 200 Armenian temples in the country. The Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Isfahan, established in 1850, covers all of Iran under the Armenian Catholic Patriarch. Iranian Armenians, who number between 70,000 and 500,000, are Iranians of Armenian ethnicity, many of whom have a long history of interaction and settlement with Persia/Iran. They are among the native ethnic groups of northwestern Iran and have a millennia-long recorded history in the region.
Armenian influence in Iran can be traced back to antiquity, with historical Armenian regions including what is now Iranian Azerbaijan. The Armenian community in Iran emerged under the Safavids, and the country once had one of the largest populations of Armenians in the world. Many of the oldest Armenian churches, monasteries, and chapels are located in Iran, particularly in the regions of Tabriz, Tehran, Salmas, and New Julfa, Isfahan. Armenians have been influential in the cultural and economic development of Iran, with notable contributions in various fields, including the arts, science, and politics.
The Catholic Church in Iran has maintained diplomatic links with the Vatican, even after the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution. In 2020, there were five priests and twelve nuns serving across seventeen parishes in the country.
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There are six different cathedrals in Iran
Iran is a multicultural country with several religions present. While Islam is the dominant religion, Christianity is considered the most influential and important religion after Islam. In 2022, there were about 21,380 Catholics in Iran out of a total population of about 86.8 million. This accounts for less than 1% of the population, making Iran one of the least Catholic countries in the world.
Despite the sparse number of Catholics in Iran, there are six different cathedrals in the country. This is due to the presence of three different Catholic sui iuris Churches: four Chaldean Catholic eparchies, one Armenian Catholic eparchy, and one Latin Catholic archdiocese. Each of these Churches has its own cathedral.
One of the cathedrals in Iran is the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Tehran, which is part of the Chaldean Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tehran. Another is the Cathedral of St. Mary the Mother of God in Urmia, which is part of the Chaldean Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Urmyā.
In addition to these, there are several other notable churches and cathedrals in Iran, including the Holy Savior Cathedral (also known as Vank Church) in Isfahan, Saint Mary Church in Tabriz, and the Monastery of Saint Thaddeus near Maku and Chaldoran. These churches and cathedrals are popular tourist attractions, known for their beautiful architecture, paintings, and historical significance.
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Iranian Catholics include foreigners like Spanish-speaking people
Iran is one of the least Catholic countries in the world, with Catholics accounting for less than 1% of the population. In 2022, there were about 21,380 Catholics in Iran out of a total population of about 86.8 million. Aside from some Iranian citizens, Catholics in Iran include foreigners like Spanish-speaking Latin Americans and Europeans. The Latin Church in Iran is extremely small, and most Latin Catholics in the country are foreigners. In 2020, there were 5 priests and 12 nuns serving across 17 parishes.
The Catholic Church in Iran is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. There are three different Catholic sui iuris Churches present in the country: the Armenian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Latin Church. The Armenian Catholic Church and the Chaldean Catholic Church are in full communion with the Holy See. The Chaldean Catholic Church is the largest Catholic Church in Iran, celebrating its liturgy in Aramaic. There are four Chaldean Catholic eparchies in Iran, including the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Tehran and the Cathedral of St. Mary the Mother of God in Urmia.
The Catholic Church has a long history with the Persians. In 1318, the Catholic Church established the diocese of Soltaniyeh, which lasted until 1355. It wasn't until the sixteenth century that Catholicism returned to the country when a group of Augustinian hermits established themselves on Hormuz Island, which had been captured by the Portuguese in 1507. In 1582, the leader of the Augustinians, Simon Morales, journeyed to Isfahan, the capital of the Safavid dynasty which then ruled Iran, and established a mission there in 1602.
Despite the sparse number of Catholics in Iran, there are six different cathedrals in the country. The U.S. State Department estimated 21,000 Roman Catholics in Iran in 2022, although the exact numbers for the Catholic Church in Iran can be difficult to pin down due to significant migration. Christians, including Catholics, are officially recognized by the Iranian government as a religious minority and permitted to worship, but their churches are closely monitored and their rights are heavily restricted.
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Christians in Iran are a recognised minority group
The Christian community in Iran includes Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Armenian Christians. According to the U.S. State Department, there were an estimated 21,000 Roman Catholics in Iran in 2022, out of a total population of about 86.8 million. The Catholic Church in Iran is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Catholics in Iran are part of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Latin Church. The Latin Church in Iran is extremely small, and most Latin Catholics in the country are foreigners.
The history of the Catholic Church in Iran dates back to the 14th century when the diocese of Soltaniyeh was established in 1318 and lasted until 1355. Catholicism returned to the country in the 16th century when Augustinian hermits established themselves on Hormuz Island, which had been captured by the Portuguese. In 1582, the leader of the Augustinians, Simon Morales, travelled to Isfahan, then the capital of the Safavid dynasty ruling Iran, and established a mission in 1602. Various Catholic religious orders, including Benedictines, Carmelites, Capuchins, and Jesuits, have since set up monasteries and missions in Iran, and there are currently six different cathedrals in the country.
Despite being a recognised minority group, Christians in Iran face restrictions on their religious practices. Distributing Bibles in the local language of Farsi is illegal, as is any kind of proselytization. Human rights groups have reported that the Iranian government has a history of arresting or executing religious minorities and protestors, charging them with offences such as blasphemy and "enmity against God". Vatican News noted that Catholic religious sisters in Iran had been unable to carry out their ministries in recent years to avoid violating the country's strict laws against proselytization.
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Frequently asked questions
There are about 21,380 Catholics in Iran, according to estimates from 2022.
Catholics make up less than 1% of Iran's population, which is about 86.8 million.
The Catholic Church in Iran is comprised of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Latin Church.
Catholics in Iran include Iranian citizens and foreigners, such as Spanish-speaking Latin Americans and Europeans.
As of 2020, there were 5 priests and 12 nuns serving across 17 parishes in Iran.
