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Statistics of the Catholic Church in Türkiye and Lebanon as of 31 December 2024 (compiled by the Central Office of Church Statistics)

 

Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure

Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate

Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload

Table 4 – Priestly vocations

Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious

Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious

 

The following are some statistical data relating to the situation of the Catholic Church in Türkiye and Lebanon as of 31 December 2024:

 

Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure

 

Türkiye

Lebanon

Area (km 2 )

774,815

10,400

Population (in thousands)

85,812

4,466

Density (inhabitants/km 2 )

111

4,466

Catholics (in thousands)

33

2,003

Catholics per 100 inhabitants

0.04

44.85

Ecclesiastical circumscriptions

7

24

Parishes

40

1,116

Other pastoral centres

18

47

Catholics per pastoral centre

569

1,722

 

Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate

 

Türkiye

Lebanon

Bishops (Situation on 31.10.2025)

10

49

Diocesan priests

18

917

Religious priests

58

647

Total priests

76

1,564

Permanent deacons

2

46

Men religious (other than priests)

5

118

Professed women religious

37

1,698

Members of secular Institutes

1

4

Lay missionaries

2

145

Catechists

56

402

  

Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload

 

Türkiye

Lebanon

Catholics per priest

434

1,281

Catholics per pastoral worker

175

498

Priests per pastoral centre

1.31

1.34

Priests per 100 people engaged in activities of the apostolate

45.5

40.1

 

Table 4 – Priestly vocations

 

Türkiye

Lebanon

Minor seminarians

1

12

Major seminarians

10

270

Major seminarians per 100,000 inhabitants

 

0.01

6.05

Major seminarians per 100,000 Catholics 

30.3

13.5

Major seminarians per 100 priests

13.2

17.3

 

Table 5 – Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious

 

Türkiye

Lebanon

Schools:

 

 

Pre-school and primary

13

503

Lower middle and secondary

10

191

Higher and university

1

50

 

 

 

Students in:

 

 

Pre-school and primary schools

1,165

137,976

Lower middle and secondary schools

5,198

49,367

Higher and university institutes

400

56,235

 

Table 6 – Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious

 

Türkiye

Lebanon

Hospitals

5

23

Clinics

2

85

Leper colonies

-

1

Homes for the elderly and disabled

5

41

Orphanages and nurseries

2

56

Family consultation centres

1

16

Special centres of social education or rehabilitation

-

4

Other institutions

7

46

 

Geographical distribution in Türkiye and Lebanon

The following are present in Türkiye:

Of the Latins:

1 Metropolitan (Izmir)

2 Apostolic Vicariates (Istanbul, Anatolia)

Of the Chaldeans:

1 Archeparchy (Diarbekir)

Of the Armenians:

1 Archeparchy (Istanbul)

Of the Syriacs:

1 Patriarchal Exarchate (Türkiye)

Of the Byzantines

1 Patriarchal Exarchate (Istanbul)

 

The following are present in Lebanon:

Of the Latins:

1 Apostolic Vicariate (Bairut)

Of the Maronites:

1 Patriarchal Church (Antioch)

4 Archeparchies (Antélias, Bairut, Tripoli of Lebanon, Tyr)

6 Eparchies (Baalbek-Deir El-Ahmar, Batrum, Jbeil, Joubbé, Sarba and Jounieh, Saïdā, Zahleh)

Of the Greek-Melkites

2 Metropolitans (Bairut and Jbeil, Tyr)

5 Archeparchies (Baalbek, Bāniyās, Saïdā, Tripoli of Lebanon, Zahleh and Furzol)

Of the Syriacs:

1 Patriarchal Church (Antioch)

1 Eparchy (Bairut)

Of the Armenians

1 Patriarchal Church (Cilicia of the Armenians)

1 Metropolitan (Bairut)

Of the Chaldeans:

1 Eparchy (Bairut)

Today,  Tuesday 25 November 2025 , at  13.00 , at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, the Director Matteo Bruni will hold a  briefing to present the programme of the Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Türkiye and in Lebanon  with the pilgrimage to İznik, Türkiye, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, to take place from 27 November to 2 December 2025.

Remote participation

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the Briefing remotely must apply, no later than two hours before the beginning of the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  Briefing Viaggio in Türkiye e in Libano .

During the request phase, select the option “Sì” in the box “Partecipazione da remoto”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, the link to access the virtual platform and to participate actively in the Briefing, with the possibility to ask questions.

Participation in person

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the Briefing in person must apply, no later than 24 hours before the beginning of the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  Briefing Viaggio in Türkiye e in Libano .

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system.

* . * . *

Journalists and media operators accredited for the Briefing are requested to arrive 30 minutes before the start time.

DIRECTIONS

12 DECEMBER 2025

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION PRESIDED OVER BY THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV

On Friday 12 December 2025, on the occasion of the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, at 16.00, the Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the Eucharistic Celebration in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

* * *

The Patriarchs and Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who wish to concelebrate are invited to be present by 15.30 in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian, bringing with them: the Cardinals and Patriarchs, their white damask mitre; the Archbishops and Bishops, their simple white mitre.

The Presbyters who wish to concelebrate, and the Deacons, must obtain the relevant ticket from this Office by 10 December via the procedure indicated at https://biglietti.liturgiepontificie.va , and are invited to be present by 15.00 at the Braccio di Costantino, bringing with them their amice, alb, cincture and white stole.

Vatican City, 25 November 2025

✠ Diego Ravelli Titular Archbishop of Recanati Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations

At 11.30 today, at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, a press conference was held to present the event Restarting the Economy , scheduled to take place at Castel Gandolfo from 28 to 30 November, promoted by the “ Economy of Francesco” Foundation, with the support of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The speakers were: Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, president of the Economy of Francesco Foundation; Professor Luigino Bruni, economist and vice-president of the Foundation; the Reverend Fr. Avelino Chicoma Bundo Chico, S.J., office head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Paolo Santori, president of the Scientific Committee of the Foundation (by remote connection); Luca Iacovone and Rita Sacramento Monteiro, staff of The Economy of Francesco .

The following are their interventions:

 

Intervention of Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino

Restarting the Economy is the first world event of The Economy of Francesco to take place outside Assisi and without the presence of Pope Francis. A new development that marks not a distance, but rather an extension: the spirit of Assisi, it has affirmed, has become close to Rome and to the Pope, so as to continue to inspire an economy capable of placing itself at the service of humanity and of creation.

From Francis of Assisi, who divested himself of everything to share the life of the poor, we still receive indications today that are decisive for rethinking the economic paradigm. And from Pope Francis, who chose that name and that mission, we have received strong words on the economy understood as care for the ‘ oikos’ , the home: the personal home, the common home, the human family and creation, in which every being is a brother and sister.

The Economy of Francesco stems from this dual heritage: Franciscan spirituality and the social doctrine of the Church. The Pope wished to entrust this task, this confidence, to us. We remember well what he told us a year ago, when a delegation from our organization met with him: “ Be witnesses, do not be afraid, hope tirelessly ”. It was, in a sense, his testament to us.

Today, this journey continues with Leo XIV, the new Pope, who has chosen a name in continuity with Leo XIII, the Pontiff of Rerum Novarum , which gave rise to the modern social doctrine. This too is a sign. We are on the right path.

 

Intervention of Professor Luigino Bruni

With over 600 participants expected, the second international conference conference of The Economy of Francesco exceeds all expectations. This is a sign that young people’s commitment to changing the economy is alive and capable of shaping the future. Restarting the Economy is the EoF version of the Jubilee: a return to the original biblical meaning—the liberation of today’s slaves (to addictions, usury, poverty), the remission of debts (and therefore the major issue of finance, good and bad), the restitution of land (ecology, justice, the challenges facing the Amazon, Africa, and our cities).

During the event, the Eof Fraternity Report 2025 will be presented, the result of this year’s work and destined to become an annual appointment: a measurement of the state of fraternity in the world, a concept dear to Saint Francis, to Pope Francis, and to the movement itself. It is an unprecedented work of scientific value, which will also be flanked by a first measurement of the “spiritual capital” existing in our societies.

The programme will be extensive and dynamic, with over one hundred presentations in the workshops, more than 120 proposals gathered through the competition for extraordinary ideas , and the participation of around 80 high school students. It will be a true exhibition of the prophetic economy of young people.

“Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams” ( Joel ). Pope Francis dreamt, and the young are prophesying. Let us try to listen to their voice and their cry.

 

Intervention of the Reverend Fr. Avelino Chicoma Bundo Chico, S.J.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has accompanied the Economy of Francesco since the very beginning, recognizing in the movement a strong harmony with its own mission. Values such as the centrality of the person, social and ecological justice, solidarity, inclusion, and cooperation represent common ground on which a respectful accompaniment of the movement’s autonomy has developed, capable of supporting its growth and initiatives in recent years. It is in this context that the Dicastery’s interest in the EoF Fraternity Report 2025 also fits in, a tool designed to make the degree of fraternity within economies visible and measurable, and to translate the values that inspire the Economy of Francesco into operational terms.

From 28 to 30 November the international event Restarting the Economy will be held in Castel Gandolfo, which the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is accompanying with conviction, recognizing its value as a space for discussion of the crucial issues of our time: labour and the new forms of exclusion, the economic and ecological debt, climate justice, the use of technologies, and the sustainability of systems of production and consumption.

The initiative represents an important opportunity to relaunch a vision of the economy based on fraternity, understood not only as an ethical principle, but as a structural element of development. A fraternity that is translated into trust in markets, cooperation between social and institutional actors, and the inclusion of the most fragile people. It is in this context that the EoF Fraternity Report 2025 fits in, a tool that the Dicastery views with interest for its ability to make measurable—based on empirical data—those elements of reciprocity, openness, and cohesion that can guide policies, formation, and pastoral action, both inside and outside the Church.

 

Intervention of Paolo Santori

The report presented by the Economy of Francesco highlights how fraternity, a moral and social pillar, can also be a decisive, albeit as yet unmeasured, economic component. By developing an innovative indicator based on international data, the study analyses the level of fraternity within and between global economies. Rooted in the legacy of Saint Francis and in the teachings of Fratelli tutti , the document clarifies the contemporary meaning of “fraternity” and invites us to rethink development, cooperation and collective wellbeing, beyond partial or ambiguous visions of the term.

 

Intervention of Rita Sacramento Monteiro and Luca Iacovone

More than six hundred young people from over sixty countries, including students from European secondary schools, will engage with experts from various fields: economists, philosophers, entrepreneurs, theologians, artists, and policy makers. The program will consist of plenary sessions with international guests such as Sabine Alkire, Jennifer Nedelsky, Paolo Benanti, Massimo Mercati, and Stefano Zamagni; thematic workshops; spiritual and creative moments; and an extensive exhibition of projects and experiences born within the EoF movement: the EoF Fair . Particular emphasis will be given to two dedicated sessions: Prophetic Voices for a New Economy , in which young people from different backgrounds will recount experiences of change already underway; and Extraordinary Ideas for the Economy of Francesco , a series of short presentations that will give voice to entrepreneurial ideas, social initiatives and innovative research selected through an international call for proposals.

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the participants in the National Pilgrimage from Latvia, to whom he delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you!

 

Madam Prime Minister, Your Excellencies, Dear friends, Welcome! Welcome to the Vatican!

I am happy to greet all of you on the occasion of your pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year, especially since it occurs on the one hundredth anniversary of the very first official Latvian pilgrimage to Rome.

It is very good to see that you are keeping this tradition of pilgrimage alive and following in the footsteps of your forebears in the faith.  I wish to express my gratitude for your presence here this morning, for Rome has always been a home for all Christians, since it is here that the great Apostles Peter and Paul gave the supreme witness to the Gospel by becoming martyrs for the faith. It is my prayer that you may draw inspiration from them and from the other sites of the saints in Rome. All of them demonstrated that hope does not disappoint despite the uncertainty of their circumstances and the challenges they faced (cf.  Spes Non Confundit , 1).

As you know, Pope Francis visited Latvia in 2018, on the centenary of your nation’s independence and spoke of the difficulties your country experienced in the past. While the current conflict in your region may evoke memories of those turbulent times, it is important for all of us to turn to God and to be strengthened by God’s grace when faced with such tribulation.

Hope, which is the central theme of this year’s Jubilee, does not mean having all the answers but rather it calls us to put our trust in God and to follow Christ more closely.  In his speech at the Presidential Palace, Pope Francis spoke about the vital role the Christian faith played in your country’s history and even quoted Zenta Maurina, who wrote that your roots “are in heaven”. For this reason, I am grateful that the ties between Latvia and the Holy See have grown closer over the last few years.  Indeed, I am especially glad that your Prime Minister is present here today, whom I warmly great.

While we are encouraged by hope, at the same time, we need to unite it with the virtue of faith in order to keep our eyes on the present and see the many ways that God is blessing us here and now.  In this regard, a pilgrimage has an important role in our life of faith for it gives us the time and space to encounter God more deeply.  It takes us away from the routine and noise of everyday life and offers the space and silence to hear God’s voice more clearly. I therefore encourage you to use this opportunity for prayer and open yourselves to God’s grace, so that it may strengthen your faith and bestow upon you the peace that the world cannot give (cf.  Jn  14:27).

Finally, as all of you return to your beloved homeland, please remember that a pilgrimage does not end but its seeds should take root in your daily discipleship and bear fruit in your lives (cf.  Jn  15:16). In this way, the Church in Latvia will surely continue to be a source of joy and hope to all Latvians.

So my dear friends, with these few words, and entrusting you to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, I gladly impart to each of you and to all your loved ones, especially the sick, the elderly, the children, my heartfelt blessing, placing your lives in the hands of God. Thank you very much.