CAIRO,
February 3 (IslamOnline.net) – Catholicism is growing fast in the
world, especially in Africa, thanks to development plans and mission
work leaving for the poor continent, a source close the Vatican said
Thursday, February 3.
The
source, speaking to IOL over the phone, was commenting on a yet-to-be
published report by the Vatican, saying the number of Catholics in the
world rose to 1.086 billion in 2003 from 1.071 billion in 2002.
The
Vatican issued a statement on the report, carried by Reuters January
31, and the report itself is to be published soon on the Vatican's
2005 yearbook, showing that Catholicism is growing fast in the black
continent.
The
source, who asked not to be named, attributed the increase in
Catholics in Africa to a successful policy adopted by the Vatican.
“The
increase is due to mission work and development plans earmarked for
the world’s poorest continent,” the source told IOL.
He
referred also to an educational strategy the Vatican, picking African
intellectuals to sponsor their teaching in Europe before their return
to homeland countries. The source did not elaborate.
The
Vatican statement said while there was increase in other parts of the
developing world, with Asia posting a 2.2 percent rise, Africa saw a
4.5 percent increase in the number of baptized Catholics, according to
Reuters.
The
increase in the number of Catholics in Africa and Asia exceeded
population growth, according to the latest World Bank data, also
carried by Reuters.
“Virgin
Territory”
The
unnamed Vatican source described Africa as a “virgin territory”
for Catholicism, saying more atheists in the continent could convert
in the future, expecting that to be “at the same swift pace”.
According
to the CIA Fact Book, there are millions of animists in African
countries. In Benin, for one, 50% of population is animists.
The
source further believed the recent agreement between the Khartoum
government and southern rebels would give more presence to Catholicism
in Africa.
There
are one million Catholics in the south of Sudan. The number is
expected to see a profound increase as there are a large number of
animists there especially after clinching the peace deal before the
end of the year, according to the Vatican source.
Poor
African areas have long been known as a fertile ground for mission
work, as getting by could have priority over religion to some
residents there.
Not
Muslims
The
Vatican source, meanwhile, dismissed Muslims are targeted by the
Vatican for proselytizing, saying Catholicism rather appreciates Islam
as a “Revealed religion”.
“Muslims
are not targeted for conversion to Catholicism, which rather seeks to
spread its spiritual message to animists,” he said.
The
Vatican report on the fast growing of Catholicism came as Pope John
Paul is hospitalized for a latest illness that has raised the question
of what the Church would do if he were permanently incapacitated --
and reopened debate over whether Popes should retire instead of
reigning for life.
Muslim
Analysts have expressed fears over the spread of Christian missionary
work in Muslim countries, especially in turbulent areas as Iraq and
Asian Muslim countries affected by the killer waves.
