Catholic Church in Mexico | |
---|---|
Spanish: Iglesia Católica en México | |
Type | National polity |
Classification | Catholic |
Orientation | Roman Catholic |
Scripture | Bible |
Theology | Catholic theology |
Polity | Episcopal |
Governance | CEM |
Pope | Francis |
President | Francisco Robles Ortega |
Region | Mexico |
Language | Spanish, Latin |
Headquarters | Mexico City |
Founder | Juan de Zumárraga |
Origin | Early 16th Century New Spain, Spanish Empire |
Separations | Protestantism in Mexico |
Members | 97,864,220 (2020) |
Official website | CEM |
The Mexican Catholic Church, or Catholic Church in Mexico, is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, his Curia in Rome, and the national Mexican Episcopal Conference. According to the Mexican census, Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Mexico, practiced by 77.7 percent of the population in 2020.[1] A Statistica survey suggests this number could be a little lower, suggesting Catholics could make up 72 percent of the nation.[2]
The history of the Catholic Church in Mexico dates from the period of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519–1521) and it has continued as an institution in Mexico into the twenty-first century. In the late 20th century, Eastern Catholic jurisdictions were also established in Mexico.
In many parts of the country, Catholic Christianity is heavily syncretized with folk customs; and Aztec, Mayan, and other pre-Columban religions.