Joshua Bennett
Traditionalist Catholicism is a small but growing movement, particularly in the United States, France, England, and a few other Anglophone countries. Traditional Catholics, or Traditionalists, believe that there has been a break from the Church's traditional teachings, and they hold fast to the unchangeable principles of the Catholic faith. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact number of traditional Catholics, we can look at broader statistics to gain a sense of the overall Catholic population and the trends within it.
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What You'll Learn
Traditional Catholics and the Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, was the 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. It was announced by Pope John XXIII on 25 January 1959 and took place from 11 October 1962 to 8 December 1965. The council was a significant event in the history of the Catholic Church, with the goal of spiritual renewal and unity among Christians. It was the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church that women were allowed to attend an assembly of bishops, albeit as observers.
Vatican II produced 16 documents that brought about many modernizing changes in the Church. These changes included the widespread use of vernacular languages in the Mass instead of Latin, the allowance of communion under both kinds for the laity, the subtle disuse of ornate clerical regalia, and the revision of Eucharistic prayers. The council also encouraged ecumenism, fostering dialogue and harmonious relations with missionaries of other faiths. It acknowledged the validity of non-Christian religions and the possibility of salvation for non-Christians.
While these changes were praised by many faithful Catholics, they remain divisive among Traditionalist Catholics. Some Traditionalist groups, such as the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), reject the validity of Vatican II, claiming that several council statements conflict with established teachings on faith, morals, and doctrine. The SSPX faced canonical sanctions in 1988 due to a conflict with Pope John Paul II over the consecration of bishops, which has been a subject of ongoing debate within the Catholic community.
The United States, along with France, England, and a few other Anglophone countries, has emerged as a stronghold for the small but growing Traditionalist Catholic movement. The movement remains a contentious issue, particularly among those Catholics who express a preference for the liturgy of the Latin Mass.
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Traditional Catholics and the Pope
The Catholic Church, comprising the Latin Church and 22 or 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, is the oldest continuously functioning international institution in the world. It is also the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare globally, with a vast network of charities, hospitals, orphanages, and schools.
According to the World Christian Database, there are about 1.272 billion Catholics worldwide as of 2025, constituting 48.1% of all Christians. The Catholic Church in the United States, part of the worldwide Catholic Church in communion with the pope, is the country's second-largest religious grouping, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018.
Traditionalist Catholics, a small but growing movement in the United States, France, England, and a few other Anglophone countries, hold diverse views regarding the pope. Some traditionalists, known as Sedevacantists, believe that the Vatican II popes, including Pope John XXIII and his successors, have forfeited their position by accepting heretical teachings connected to the Second Vatican Council. They conclude that there is currently no true pope, and their stance constitutes an act of schism that can lead to excommunication. Other Sedevacantist groups, such as the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI), have formed spontaneously among followers of certain leaders.
On the other hand, the Holy See, under Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, has recognized the preference of many Catholics for traditional forms of worship while not extending approval to those who oppose the present-day church leadership. Pope Francis, in 2016, addressed the issue of traditionalism, distinguishing between rigid fundamentalism, which he does not condone, and fidelity, which allows for growth and consolidation of the faith over time.
While some traditionalists view the pope with skepticism or dissent, others, like Conclavists, have gone as far as electing their own popes in opposition to the Vatican II pontiffs. These Conclavists have a minimal following and are not considered serious claimants. Overall, in a February 2025 survey, about three-quarters of Catholics expressed a favorable view of Pope Francis.
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Traditional Catholics and the Mass
Traditional Catholics are those who claim that there has been a break from and discontinuity with the Church's traditional teaching. They display a Protestant attitude of "private judgment" on matters of doctrine instead of accepting the guidance of the Magisterium of the Church. They fail to distinguish between changeable pastoral practices (such as the liturgy of the Mass) and the unchangeable principles of the Catholic faith (such as the dogmas surrounding the Mass).
Some Traditional Catholics have taken the position of sedevacantism, which teaches that Pope John XXIII and his successors are heretics and, therefore, cannot be considered true popes, and that the Catholic Church's sacraments are not valid. This constitutes an act of schism and is an offense that can result in excommunication. Sedevacantists hold the view that the Vatican II popes have forfeited their position by accepting heretical teachings connected with the Second Vatican Council. This is a minority position among traditionalist Catholics and a highly divisive one.
Another group, the Conclavists, have elected their own popes in opposition to the post-Vatican II pontiffs. They are not considered serious claimants except by their very few followers. Since the Second Vatican Council, several traditionalist organizations have been started with or have subsequently obtained approval from the Catholic Church.
The Holy See recognizes as fully legitimate the preference that many Catholics have for the earlier forms of worship. This was stated in Pope John Paul II's 1988 apostolic letter Ecclesia Dei and Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. The United States has emerged as a stronghold for the small but growing Traditionalist Catholic movement, along with France, England, and a few other Anglophone countries. There are over 600 locations throughout the country where the Traditional Latin Mass is offered.
According to a 2020 Gallup poll, 25% of Americans identified as Catholic, and about three-in-ten U.S. Catholics (29%) say they attend Mass weekly or more often.
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Traditional Catholics and the Catholic Church
Traditionalist Catholicism is a movement that has emerged in the United States, alongside other countries such as France, England, and some other Anglophone countries. Traditional Catholics claim that there has been a discontinuity with the Church's traditional teachings, which has resulted in a break from the Catholic Church. This attitude of "private judgment" on matters of doctrine is similar to that of Protestant beliefs.
The Holy See recognizes the preference of many Catholics for earlier forms of worship, as stated in Pope John Paul II's 1988 apostolic letter Ecclesia Dei and Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 Summorum Pontificum. However, the Holy See does not approve of those who oppose the present-day Church leadership. Traditional Catholics who take the position of sedevacantism believe that Pope John XXIII and his successors are heretics and, therefore, not true popes. This is considered a highly divisive and minority position among traditionalist Catholics.
The Catholic Church is the largest single church in the United States, comprising 23% of the population as of 2018. While many Americans still identify as Catholics, religious participation rates are declining. Weekly church attendance among Catholics has dropped from 55% to 20%, and the number of people who have left Catholicism has increased from under 2 million in 1975 to over 30 million today. The Latino element has now reached 37% of the Catholic population, and Catholics of color tend to lean more Democratic.
The Catholic Church is the oldest continuously functioning international institution in the world and is the largest non-government provider of education and healthcare. It oversees a vast network of charities, including hospitals, orphanages, elementary schools, and secondary schools. While it is difficult to determine the exact number of Traditional Catholics, their presence is notable, particularly in the United States and a few other countries.
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Traditional Catholics in the United States
The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, with 23% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2018. This makes Catholicism the second-largest religious grouping in the country after Protestantism. The United States is also a stronghold for the small but growing Traditionalist Catholic movement.
In recent years, the Catholic Church in the United States has seen a shift towards traditionalism and orthodoxy, with increasing numbers of young Catholics searching for a more conservative and orthodox version of the faith. This has led to a rise in the popularity of Newman Centers, which serve Catholic university students, and FOCUS, a traditionalist organization working on American college campuses. There has also been a growth in conservative Catholic media, such as the cable TV network EWTN.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population in the United States varies by region. For example, in the Midwest, 78% of Catholics are White and 15% are Hispanic, while in the West, there are more Hispanic Catholics than White Catholics (58% vs. 27%). The share of U.S. Catholics who are Hispanic is rising, with the latest figures showing that the Catholic population is 54% White and 36% Hispanic.
While the number of priests in the United States has declined in recent decades, there are still over 600 locations across the country where the Traditional Latin Mass is offered. These masses appeal to those seeking a return to medieval traditions, with more Latin, incense, and Gregorian chants.
Overall, the United States has a significant Catholic population, with a growing number of traditionalist and conservative Catholics influencing parishes and universities across the country.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2025, there are 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, according to the Vatican.
Brazil has the largest Catholic population in the world, with an estimated 123 million people or more following the religion.
Catholics make up 17.67% of the global population, or 48.1% of all Christians.
On average, there are 259,000 Catholics per bishop globally.
Vatican City has the highest percentage of Catholics, with the religion being followed by 100% of its population.
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