The Roman Catholic Church in Uzbekistan is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. There are approximately 5000 Catholics in the country of 27 million.[1] They are organized under a single Apostolic Administration. The country currently has five parishes and the bishop hopes to open two more.[1]
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Various religious orders such as the Franciscans and Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity have a presence in the country and assist in activities such as caring for the poor, prisoners, and the sick.[1] There are also attempts to introduce the Catholic charity group Caritas, but has so far been unsuccessful.[1] All missionary and other efforts to convert people to Catholicism from other religions is barred by law.[1]
Muslim - Christian relations in the country are positive. There are no official relations between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches in Uzbekistan, however, at the local level priests of the two communities are in dialogue. Relations between Armenian Apostolic Christians, Lutherans and local Catholic communities are positive.