Grace Thompson
Mexico has the second-largest number of Catholics in the world, with around 90 million Catholics according to the 2020 census. This equates to approximately 78% of the total population, although some sources place this figure slightly lower at 72%. The country is divided into 18 Ecclesiastical provinces, containing a total of 90 dioceses, and has a rich history of Catholicism dating back to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. While the percentage of Mexicans identifying as Catholic has been declining, Mexico remains one of the most Catholic countries in Latin America, with a larger majority of Mexicans retaining their Catholic faith compared to other Latin American countries.
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What You'll Learn
Mexico is the second-largest Catholic country in the world
Mexico is a predominantly Catholic country, with the largest number of Catholics after Brazil. In a country of around 97,864,220 Catholics, according to the 2020 census, this equates to approximately 78% of the total population. Other sources place the figure at 81% in 2014, and 69.4% in 2023.
The country is divided into 18 Ecclesiastical provinces, containing a total of 90 dioceses. There are 15,700 diocesan priests and 46,000 men and women in religious orders. The Mexican Catholic Church is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, his Curia in Rome, and the national Mexican Episcopal Conference.
Catholicism has a long history in Mexico, dating back to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519-1521). In the national period following independence in the early nineteenth century, the Catholic Church was established as the official and unique religion. However, this sparked violent conflict between conservatives and liberals, with the Mexican Revolution resulting in the Constitutionalists restricting the Church's role. Despite this, the Church remained influential in the late twentieth century, particularly in the establishment of religious educational institutions and the creation of the National Action Party.
While Mexico is a secular country that protects freedom of religion, Catholicism remains deeply ingrained in Mexican culture. The Virgin of Guadalupe is widely revered, and Catholic practices are often syncretized with native traditions. However, there are varying levels of agreement with Catholic teachings, with many Mexican Catholics holding more liberal views on issues such as gay marriage, contraception, and divorce.
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Catholicism is the dominant religion in Mexico
The Catholic Church in Mexico is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, his Curia in Rome, and the national Mexican Episcopal Conference. The country is divided into 18 Ecclesiastical provinces, containing a total of 90 dioceses, with 15,700 diocesan priests and 46,000 men and women in religious orders. While the majority of Mexicans identify as Catholic, the level of religious observance varies, with around 3% attending church daily and 44% attending at least once a week.
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of Mexicans leaving the Catholic Church, with around one-tenth of adults raised Catholic no longer identifying with the religion. However, the decline in Catholicism in Mexico has been less pronounced than in other Latin American countries. This may be due to the syncretism of Catholic practices with native traditions, as well as the strong presence of the Catholic Church in the country's political and social landscape.
Despite the overall decline in religious observance, the Catholic Church in Mexico continues to play a significant role in the country's culture and society. For example, the Virgin of Guadalupe is widely revered, and Catholic festivities are often celebrated by people of various religious backgrounds. Additionally, the Church has been actively involved in mediating political conflicts and kidnappings, with cardinals such as Alberto Suárez Inda playing a prominent role in these efforts.
In conclusion, while Catholicism is the dominant religion in Mexico, the country also has a long history of religious freedom and diversity. The Mexican Constitution protects the freedom of religion, and there are a variety of other religious groups present in the country, including Protestants, Jews, and Buddhists.
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Mexican Catholics hold more liberal views than the Catholic Church
Mexico has the second-largest number of Catholics in the world, with 90,224,559 Catholics making up 78% to 81% of the total population as of 2020. While Mexicans are more Catholic than Mexican Americans, Mexican Catholics hold more liberal views than the Catholic Church on certain issues.
LGBT Rights
Half of Mexican Catholics support same-sex marriage, with legal same-sex marriage existing in certain parts of the country. This is in contrast to the Catholic Church's opposition to gay marriage. Pope Leo XIV, who succeeded Pope Francis, has continued his predecessor's progressive path on LGBT rights, although he has signalled a change of tone in other areas by embracing traditional attire and living quarters.
Divorce, Contraception, and Sex Outside of Marriage
The Catholic Church considers divorce, contraception, and sex outside of marriage to be sinful behaviours. However, 66% of Mexican Catholics support the use of contraception, and 60% support divorce. Only 32% and 45% of Mexican Catholics, respectively, believe that divorce and sex outside of marriage are morally wrong.
The Priesthood
The Catholic Church does not allow priests to marry or women to become priests. While Mexican Catholics are more conservative on this issue, with only 31% supporting changes to church policy, this still represents a more liberal stance than Mexican-American Catholics, who are twice as likely to support these changes.
Religious Freedom
Mexico has allowed freedom of religion since the mid-19th century, and the Constitution of Mexico protects this freedom. While the Catholic Church was the sole permissible church during the colonial era, Mexican liberals have sought to reduce the power and privilege of the Catholic Church since the 19th century. The anticlerical provisions of the liberal Constitution of 1857, which were strengthened in the Constitution of 1917, reflect this effort to curtail the Church's influence.
In recent times, religious discrimination and violence against religious leaders have persisted in Mexico. The National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED) has worked to address religious discrimination, such as denouncing a Nazi-themed wedding held at a Catholic church. The Catholic Multimedia Center (CMC) has reported high levels of extortion and threats against priests, identifying Mexico as the most violent country for priests in Latin America for 14 consecutive years.
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Atheism and irreligion are on the rise in Mexico
Mexico has the second-largest number of Catholics in the world, with 90,224,559 Catholics as of 2020. This represents around 78% of the total population, making Catholicism the country's largest denomination. Despite this, Mexico is a secular country, and atheism and irreligion are on the rise.
The country's relationship with religion is complex. While it has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, and one of the biggest Catholic populations, it has been a secular country since the mid-19th century. The Mexican constitution and other laws establish and protect freedom of religion, and religious instruction is prohibited in public schools. However, religious groups are permitted to maintain private schools.
Historically, the Roman Catholic Church has held prominent social and political positions in Mexico, contributing to the country's cultural identity. Catholicism was the state religion from 1824 until 1857, when the new constitution stipulated that Mexico had no official religion. This led to anti-clerical laws that promoted a secular society and limited the participation of Catholic organizations in civil life.
In recent decades, the percentage of Mexicans identifying as Catholic has declined, from 90% in the 1960s to 81% in 2014, and now 78% as of 2020. This is largely due to the growth of other Christian denominations, such as various Protestant churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism. Atheism and irreligion are also becoming more prevalent. While it is complex to measure due to the secular lifestyles of many Catholics and Protestants, the number of atheists in Mexico is growing annually by 5.2%, according to INEGI. In contrast, the number of Catholics is growing by only 1.7%.
The decline in Catholicism is less pronounced in Mexico than in other Latin American countries, and central Mexico remains one of the most Catholic areas in the world. However, there is a notable increase in secularization among urban Catholics, and religious participation is lower than expected on a predominantly Christian continent.
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Mexico has a history of violent religious conflict
Mexico has the world's second-largest number of Catholics, with 90,224,559 Catholics making up around 78% of the population as of the 2020 census. More than half of Mexican Catholics are nominal, combining Catholic practices with native traditions. Urban Catholics tend to be more secularised, while middle and high urban classes are generally apathetic towards spirituality, with the exception of certain beliefs like zodiac signs and the worship of the Virgin Mary.
During the Cristero War, Catholic places of worship in and around Jalisco were ordered to be bolted shut, remaining closed for two years. Catholic bishops endorsed an economic boycott against the government, which was particularly effective in west-central Mexico. Catholics in those areas boycotted movies, plays, and public transportation, and Catholic teachers stopped teaching in secular schools. Pope Pius XI even sent a letter urging all Catholics worldwide to pray for the cessation of the Mexican government's "persecution of Catholics."
In addition to the Cristero War, there have been other instances of religious conflict and discrimination in Mexico. For example, in 2022, the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED) opened two religious discrimination cases, one of which involved a Nazi-themed wedding held at a Catholic church. The Episcopal Conference of Mexico (CEM) was urged to instruct Catholic bishops to prohibit antisemitic or discriminatory symbology.
Mexico has also been identified as the most violent country for priests in Latin America for 14 consecutive years by the Catholic Multimedia Center (CMC). CMC reported approximately 850 incidents of extortion and threats against priests yearly for the past five years, with killings also occurring. However, the Mexican government and Catholic Church officials have stated that these attacks reflect high levels of generalized violence rather than solely religious identity.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2020, there were around 97,864,220 Catholics in Mexico, making up 78% of the population.
Mexico has the second-largest Catholic population in the world, second only to Brazil. It also has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world.
Recent surveys have shown that around 3% of Catholics attend church daily and 44% attend church at least once a week.
The percentage of Catholics in Mexico has been declining in recent decades, although this decline has been less pronounced than in other Latin American countries.
