Roman Catholicism in Uruguay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Roman Catholic Church in Uruguay is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.

There are about two million Catholics in the country - about 60% of the total population. There are ten dioceses including two archdioceses.

Evangelization of Uruguay followed Spanish settlement in 1624. Montevideo became a diocese in 1878. Missionaries followed the reduction pattern of gathering Indians into communities, training them in agriculture, husbandry, and other arts, while forming them in the Faith. The constitution of 1830 made Catholicism the religion of the state and subsidized missions to Indians. The constitution of 1917 enacted separation of Church and state.