Spain: The average Spanish missionary is 75 years old
While Spain continues to contribute significantly to the Pontifical Mission Societies—it is the second largest contributor in the world, after the United States, with 16% of the funds collected—its missionaries are struggling to renew their numbers and currently have fewer than 6,000 serving worldwide.
"The number of active missionaries has decreased from 6,042 (according to the 2023 report) to 5,624 (in the 2024 report). In addition, there are 4,024 who collaborate in missionary animation and are awaiting assignment.
More specifically, the profile of Spanish missionaries is that of a woman (representing 53% of the total compared to 47% of men), aged 75, and a religious woman." There are also six cardinals and 75 missionary bishops. By continent, the majority (65.29%) are in the Americas. This is followed by Europe (16.57%), Africa (11.11%), Asia (6.56%), and Oceania (0.47%).
The countries with the most Spanish missionaries in the world are: Peru, with 524; Venezuela, with 397; and Italy, with 384.
Once again, the "spring of the Council" translates into a statistical salt desert.
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