The Roman Catholic Church in Trinidad and Tobago is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. The Apostolic Nuncio to Trinidad and Tobago is, since December 2011, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, who is also Apostolic Nuncio to other independent states and Apostolic Delegate for the dependent territories in the Caribbean area.
There are just under 300,000 Catholics in the country. According to the 1990 census, Roman Catholics make up the largest religious group in the nation, at 29% of the population. The entire nation is administered as the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, which is divided into five episcopal vicariates. The archbishop of Port of Spain is a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.
Missionary ventures to the country launched in the 16th century resulted in the death of a number of missionaries. The first Catholic church in Trinidad was built in 1591. Capuchins worked there from 1618 to 1803. Missionary work continued after the British took control. In 1818, the Apostolic Vicariate of Trinidad was established, which was elevated to the Archdiocese of Port of Spain in 1850.
Relations between Church and state are cordial; both want more native clergy.
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